Artists sketch him. Fans sew outfits for him. Secret online cat groups worship him. Meet your new obsession: a cat named Lionel.
KATNISS: Start from the beginning… which, by the looks of you, was not that long ago.
LIONEL: My earliest memory was being brought to the Michiana Humane Society. My stomach felt a little jumbly and one of my eyes was a bit goopy, but one day I looked out at the visiting Humans with my good eye and spotted someone special. She picked me up, I nuzzled her, started purring and I was done fur. I think she felt the same way.
KATNISS: Aww… so you left and went to your furever home?
LIONEL: No. The shelter said, “Not meow” – their policy is not to adopt until a pet is neutered and they don’t neuter until one is 2lbs. I was just over 1lb. But then I begin losing weight, rapidly, and they thought I might do better in a home, so they called my new Humom and told her to come get me.
KATNISS: And she thought of you with your cute face and big eye and came running.
LIONEL: Basically. I loved my new home, but my bad eye was still very gunky. Humom and Cat Dad got me to a vet who found roundworm, at least two intestinal parasites and an eye infection. They saved me from what could have been a cat-astrophe.
KATNISS: Did you start feline better right away?
LIONEL: Yes, but it was a bit touch-and-go at first. The vet told my Humans that there was “still a chance for heartbreak” – that I might not make it. That’s when my Cat Dad held me close, snuggled me and assured me they would do whatever it took to help me get better. Knowing they were going to help meowt gave me strength and a sense of purrpose.
KATNISS: You sound very bonded to your new family.
LIONEL: Oh, yes! One of my favorite things is when Meowmy carries me around in a sweatshirt with a kangaroo-style pocket designed to hold a cat.
KATNISS: Sounds like you’ve got them trained! What are your other favorite things to do?
LIONEL: I love feeding time – I jump around the Humans’ feets. I also love when they’re sleeping – I snuggle as close to them as possible and exfoliate their faces with my little scratchy tongue.
KATNISS: I’ve noticed you wear a lot of sweaters. Are you trying to make a fashion statement or just keep warm?
LIONEL: Both! I wear a lot of doll clothes and purr as soon as they’re put on. I enjoy going fur car rides to get my Human siblings from school and such and I like to bundle up when it’s cold outside. Meowmy wears a coat, so why shouldn’t I wear one, too?
KATNISS: In the few months you’ve been alive, you’ve already amassed an Internet following with quite a few fans.
LIONEL: Yes, it’s all very amewsing to me. Can you believe someone is making a coloring book about me, which is available on Etsy!
KATNISS: Me-wow!
LIONEL: Well, I think I’m going to find one of my Humans now and get them to smack my butt, which makes me drift off to sleep.
KATNISS: Sweet dreams, little beast.
__________
