Losing Leroy Options

[karenmc]

Many thanks to those who have replied to my post about Leroy. I came back here at 4:30am since I couldn't sleep just to talk a bit more about my Sweet Beauty. A distant relative's mother was moving and could not take him with her so she let him loose in some woods near where she lived when he was just one year old. My cousin went back after a week to look for him and by some miracle he was still there and took him home. He put the word out in the family that he had a cat that needed a home (he has rabbits and couldn't keep him) so I decided the time was right for me to have a pet so I took him. At the time his name was Leo - but I decided I wanted to give him my own name but something close enough that he would learn to respond quickly and that's how I came up with Leroy. I was going through a nasty divorce and had a 3½ yr old son at the time and Leroy quickly became my only source of comfort. Many weekends when my son would visit his father, Leroy and I would just sit in a chair together for hours at a time and he never left my side. I had many cats as I was growing up, but Leroy was the only one I ever had who never hid when he was taken to a strange place. During his life I moved 5 times and every time he just took over like he knew he owned the place - no hiding under beds - he would walk from room to room inspecting everything and then come right back to where the people and the action was. His last move with us was this past August and I am so glad he had some time here. We moved to a home in the country on a little over an acre where he enjoyed the patio (only when we were out with him) and watched the birds from the windows. Just 7 wks ago he caught a mouse out there (yuk!) that my husband had to pry away from him - just didn't want to give up the prize catch! He loved it here and I could not bare the thought of not having him around so when he passed away, my husband built a secure box to bury him in and we wrapped in a blanket with some of his toys and buried him behind my gardening shed. I put several stones made of slate and one decorative one in the center and I will plant a small garden there in the spring.
Well, I'm in tears again. Thanks for letting me ramble on about my Sweet Beauty. I miss him too, too much.

[pamurchu]

Your idea of a garden memorial is perfect. I don't know if you are religious or not, but I bought a statue of St. Francis, the protector of animals, and placed it in the garden next to where my Bailey is buried. It gives me comfort to know that Bailey and all the animals are being looked after. Your stories about Leroy are touching. You were so lucky to have found each other!