This was when the little one was around three years old. One day, it woke up in a daze and forgot to retract its tongue.
In the early years, although the living conditions were simple, Leopard still had an attractive appearance.
Leopard isn’t actually fat. It weighs around 9 pounds. It just has a short – bodied build. When it squats, it gives the illusion of a three – part body, making its face seem big. (Dear, I’ve explained for you. You’re not a pig. Poor thing.) I don’t know what it experienced during its childhood as a stray. Little Leopard is very affectionate towards humans but not so much towards other cats. It likes to sleep with its head on my arm or on my lap. However, it doesn’t knead, nor does it groom other cats. It’s quite rare to see it in the same frame as the other two cats. The other two cats have the following characteristics:
The long – haired white one is the eldest, Bai Xiaotu. It’s a deaf cat. I took it in as a stray in 2002 when it was around 4 months old, in that awkward and ugly stage. Later, it grew into a majestic and domineering big Persian – like cat. Its personality is warm and outgoing, like a cat that welcomes guests. It’s the boss at home, decisive and in charge. At first, it firmly refused to be held. But at the age of 7, its personality suddenly changed, and it actively asked to be hugged. I was so touched that I almost cried. In 2015, it had a stomach tumor and went to the Rainbow Bridge. I took it to be euthanized and cremated. My heart was broken, and it took me a long time to recover.
The second – born is the short – haired white and round one, Bai Xiaolai. It’s 16 years old. I adopted it from a classmate’s home in 2003. After coming to my home, it had a close relationship with the eldest, like real brothers (they have no blood relation but look very similar). In its prime, its weight peaked at nearly 14 pounds. It’s a real chubby one. Its personality is shrewd and calculating. It can read people’s faces. It’s often the mastermind behind many mischievous deeds. When it senses something is wrong, it hides under the bed, leaving the eldest to take the blame. When I’m not feeling well or in a bad mood, it will lie beside me, quietly accompanying me. It’s very considerate.
For all these years, it has never allowed me to hold it. I’m quite helpless about that. The second – born doesn’t pay much attention to Little Leopard. After all, they’re not in the same “weight class”. But when it sees Little Leopard playing or being affectionate with me, it will come to compete for my attention. In 2011, this little one had megacolon and underwent surgery to be saved. A section of its rectum was removed, and since then, its poop has been extremely smelly and often soft. The treatment, surgery, and recovery took two months and cost over 8,000 yuan (in Beijing). This has been my most expensive lesson so far. I want to remind all cat owners: never ignore your cat’s constipation. Feed hair – removing paste in a timely manner, and if it’s serious, seek medical help immediately. Don’t procrastinate, don’t procrastinate, don’t procrastinate!!!
The following is a comparison of the body sizes of the second – born and Little Leopard. Please take a look and feel the difference for yourselves.
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