I took in two older stray kittens, and weeks later started having pretty severe allergies. I went to an allergist for tests, and the Dr. said I was a "10 out of 10" allergy to cats, and suggested I get rid of the two cats that I'd had for months. I said, "Let's try allergy shots first." I felt pretty good relief after the first months of shots, and gradually got where the allergies were tolerable. 19 years later both those kittens crossed the rainbow bridge after nearly two decades in my life. It was all worth every minute.
May your grief be short, but your memories long, friend...thank you for giving them a good and loving home. Many don't get that opportunity.Good on ya for sticking it out and looking out for your cats' welfare! Too many get put on the street due to allergies....
Thank you for finding a solution that didn't involve getting rid of the cats!I had minimal cat allergies but they got worse over the years. Got the allergy shots and the allergies went away completely. I highly recommend getting allergy shots if you've got health insurance.
I’m so glad you did that! I have a little dog who can be aggressive and don’t feel it is safe to bring cats into the house. But, I do miss cats. I adopted 4 black kittens that were abandoned by the side of a road. They were the sweetest, funniest, most affectionate kitties imaginable. They lived to be very old and I really miss them
... or any animal! They're all highly sentient beings, including the animals still being turned into food, not just cats or the animals we call pets.. People like to see them as dumb so they can use and abuse them.
True they are amazingly sentient animals. Humans who have been lucky enough to be bonded to a cat know that special love, and the ones who haven't are the ones making the stupid comments about how dogs feel it worse etc. If you're not bonded you wouldn't know what they are feeling!
What a lot of people don't realize is that cats actually get bonded to their humans more strongly than dogs in some ways. People think dogs are friendly because you can rehome them - go to a shelter, get a dog, and he'll be your best friend by the end of the day. But cats are so bonded to their first owners that being rehomed is often traumatic for them. They don't like you or trust you because you're not their real mom. It takes effort, patience, and understanding of feline body language to bond to a cat that was already bonded to someone else. Some people do it naturally and intuitively, but most of us - even cat lovers - have no idea how to act around them.
@@twistysnacks still, adult cats that are in the shelter are very grateful when you rescue/adopt them. Even if they had someone before, they really appreciate it because they know what it’s like to lose their home.
@@fabulousbabe not always. Some of them are angry that they're losing the shelter as their home now. Depending on the shelter, at least - many of them now are "no-kill" shelters that provide more natural environments for cats, where they feel safer and get to be with other cats. The constant disruption can be extremely stressful for them. Worst case scenario, you rescued them from a kill shelter where they were kept in a filthy crate with barely enough room to turn around.... and they're still panicking because as far as they know, you're the one who put them there after kidnapping them from their previous owner. I'm not saying that's true, just that cats aren't people and you can't communicate intent to them just by getting them from a shelter. Which is why I said it takes patience and effort... which not everyone is capable of offering.
I love how Leonard jumps through your arms but absolutely refuses to do it with your husband :D That's the most cat thing, people think they're less intelligent than dogs for it, when really they just don't wanna. Live long and prosper, Leonard.
@@notchedbanditactually, they haven’t… they’ve found that dogs may have more neurons or larger brains but have admitted that that doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot as brain size and such doesn’t necessarily mean intelligence… the biggest issue is that cats and dogs were bred for different things… dogs were bred for doing tricks and companionship while cats were bred for hunting rodents and insects and eventually some companionship… dogs came from pack animals while cats came from solitary animals. Basically, cats were left as is to do what came naturally while dogs were continuously expected to do tricks and do jobs that had zero to do with their natural instincts. Do that with cats and you’ll find they’ll become more sociable and more likely to follow commands and do tricks.
Yeah, that's great. I'm a both dog and cat person and sounds like you are too now. I can't understand why people don't like cats, they are just the most wonderful creatures. Adorable. So are dogs. Hahaha. Oh god I love my cat Lily so much. And my dogs too..
@@Catmom2004 awww so lovely thank you… and I would if I could☺️ I had that mad munchkin for 23 years - she slept vigilantly by my side through cancer treatments and depression like the little guardian Angel she was. I lost her just a couple of years ago now, though I laugh thinking of her every day still 😆 crazy beautiful floofaloofa 😍 Hopefully you’re still a cat momma ☺️ and you can hug your Beans for me 🤗
“People may surprise you with unexpected kindness. Dogs have a depth of loyalty that often we seem unworthy of. But the love of a cat is a blessing, a privilege in this world.” - Kinky Friedman
Only reason most cats seem difficult to train is because they aren’t willing, not that they aren’t smart. Dogs want to please us because of their pack mentality but it’ll take an especially friendly and sociable cat to get the same result.
Appart jumping through hoops made with hands it seems like pretty normal cat. They just cherry picked bunch of clips where he pushes a ball into correct place. But somehow never 2 in a row. They likely just record him for long time until he finally scores a point.
SO glad Leonard found a home worthy of his character and intelligence! Wishing you many, many years of fun and happiness with Leonard! Leonard is absolutely LOVABLE!
I inherited a black cat from my mom, after being petless for my entire adult life. I always preferred cats, because they were more independent, but I prefer the more colorful cats, like calico. The black cat was so laid back, affectionate, and quiet, that I knew right away, we would be friends for life, although I had already committed to that, when my mom went into assisted living. He passed at 19+ years, and if I ever get another cat, it will be a black rescue.😊
Yes, after my first black cat died, and I heard about how they were the last ones to be adopted, I decided my next conscious cat adoption would be an adult black cat, from a shelter. The second was an 8 year old female, who was loving and laid back. I recently had to put her down, but I'll never forget the love and fun times I had with dah kitties. ❤❤❤
@@vickbond008 our first cat was a black male with a full, bottle-brush tail. Beautiful boy! Had injuries sustained in a fight, including an infected facial laceration. He took to my girls (5&7yr old) right away, and they became his champions! We took him to the vet, got him neutered and had his shots, and loved him for 15 years! His passing was terribly hard on us!!! Waited about 4months, until I felt my heart was ready, went to the shelter and adopted the cat that had been there the longest, and have now had her for 8years❤
When I went to adopt, the shelter was drowning in kittens and there were so many black ones left. One had an eye deformity, was underweight and the staff said she hated being picked up, so I knew the chances of her getting adopted were small. When I picked her up, she wouldn't let go of me, and that was it. Lucy was destined to be my cat. She was initially super shy but she flourished in no time. That was four years ago, and I hope I can give her just as long and happy a life as you did for your kitty! Black cats are magic! ❤
Similar thing happened to me! I was 14 when I first wanted a cat, my parents said yes and I initially wanted a black one because I thought black cats looked mysterious, sleek and cool. When we got to the home of the couple that was giving them away (her cat got pregnant) there were 2 black ones, a gray one and a couple others. The black ones ran away from me when I got close to them and I overheard the lady saying that male cats would have humping behavior if they didn't get neutered early and I had had a male rabbit that did a lot of humping so I was like oh no...I don't think I want a male cat and unfortunately both black ones were male. I ended up bringing home a gray one that was really chill and wasn't playing around much like the others, when I looked into her eyes something clicked and I thought "this one!". Best companion I could have ever asked for, got me through so much. She passed away from cancer at 18 years. I ended up adopting another gray cat because now I can't imagine life without a gray furball. She's totally different from my old cat, crazy, plays catch and dribbles her favorite ball with her front paws as if she were a soccer player, is always trying to hunt something, oh yeah she also came with her lazy orange tabby brother....😂
There are no such thing as dumb cats, most are at least as intelligent as Leonard or even smarter (my cat too), but are too humble to be the center of attention.
I've been a dog person all of my life but at age 75 my daughter gave me a kitten for Christmas as I now live alone in a 1st floor apartment (ie upstairs) and I have grown to appreciate the qualities of life with a cat. Not as "in your face" as a dog but much quieter and still good company. AND, she doesn't bark.
Sure do hope, that your daughter loves your cat too. For a kitten at age 75 is a real risk of dying before that cat and then what? If you love that cat, make sure to make provisions for her future, in case yours is shorter.
@@gardenjoy5223 First of all, that's pretty damn rude to tell someone they're going to die soon. Second, a 75 year old can live for 20+ more years, and a 25 year old can die next week, depending on their health and luck, so why bring it up? And having a cat to care for and keep him happy will probably improve his quality of life and maybe even extend his lifespan, so better for both of them to have each other than him to be lonely and the kitten to be homeless.
@@FullMoonOctober Wow, and you think YOU are not rude?! Idiotic response. The average life span of men in America has been 76 for a long time. Less in the last years with Covid. I'm not saying he is going to die soon. I'm saying, he better has a plan for the possibility. Besides, kittens don't have trouble finding a home as elderly cats do.
I always find it hilarious when "dog people" are so surprised by how intelligent cats really are. I live in a VERY small town about 12 minutes outside a town of about 150,000. So we have a LOT of people make the drive just to dump their cat they don't want anymore. That coupled with the strays already out there means we have a higher than average homeless cat population. I used to be allergic, but apparently grew out of it at some point. We ended up taking 2 in ourselves and finding homes for about 6 others. Our two boys are both INCREDIBLY smart. They want to know what everything is, how it works, what it's for, and if it's dangerous or not. They know exactly what to do to annoy me to the point where I'll get up to see what they want. (Opening kitchen cabinets just enough for it to bang shut over and over is just one of their preferred methods.) They are incredibly affectionate, love to cuddle, and are constantly making us laugh. They're even harness trained so they can go outside to visit the neighbors and smell EVERY SINGLE THING THAT EXISTS. If they didn't hate car rides so much, I'd take them everywhere. In conclusion, take my and the lady's advice in this video. Don't let being a "dog person" cause you to miss out on a VERY close and happy relationship with a cat. They just might surprise you. 😻
Thanks for taking in your boys! I would ask the city council or whomever has the authority to put cameras in those areas to capture the people dumping their pets. That's pure evil! They've been domesticated and have lost much of their natural hunting instincts and so they starve. Good luck with your fur babies! You are blessed!
Thank you both so much! I actually have an idea for a charity I want to start. A BIG issue, at least in my area, is a severe lack of shelter space with nowhere for them to go when the shelter is full. We have a very small number of foster homes, and even the ones we do have the shelters won't work with because there's no way for oversight. My idea is a charity that encourages people to either become a foster home or take in more than they already have. In exchange for becoming a foster home in our charity and submitting to an initial walkthrough inspection and quarterly inspections thereafter, they would receive help in the form of food, medicine, vet bills, etc. We would then be able to keep track of openings in the foster homes and the shelters could call us to match an animal in need up with the proper foster home, and the shelter could rest easy knowing that only the best homes would be allowed to be members of our charity. Problem is, even just getting a charity legally started is VERY expensive! But I hope to get it done somehow. I want to call it Fosters for Furbabies.
Hey if you read comments here is an idea that i saw. Make the cat comfortable with the carrier so they will feel safe on the car ride inside a carrier. With foods and pets and whatever you can come up to to make the carrier a safe space for them :)
I also mostly grew out of my allergy to cats as I got older. Before then I was one of those people whose body builds up a tolerance if I'm around a specific cat (or cats) after awhile so I've had cats for most of my life. The only thing that still causes me problems is if they lick my fingers and I touch my eyes shortly thereafter. I'm very thankful my allergies didn't prevent me (or my family as I was growing up) from having cats because I absolutely adore them and can't imagine living a life without at least one cat to bring me happiness.
Animals are really wicked smart! Smarter then a lot of people. I hate when people say they’re dumb. Clearly they are not. I feel like those people just don’t understand animals at all. I’m glad someone adopted this little guy and gives him all the love in the world. All animals deserve a great life.
Humans do not take the time to observe, and understand the subtleties of animals. We are so dependent on our words that we forget there are other ways to communicate! I retired from my work life to become a pet sitter, and I wish I had done it many many years ago! I love interacting with, and gaining the trust of all the pets that I care for! They understand us, why can’t we understand them?!❤
Thank you to you guys and your daughter for rescuing Leonard from the shelter. Black cats are both the most common and the least adopted, so a lot of incredible cats like him never find homes but you took a chance on him and saved him from possible euthanasia. We is an incredible, super intelligent cat and he deserves all the love he gives you and vice versa.❤ -A fellow Black Cat lover
Unfortunately when it's Halloween, black cats become targets to hurt and kill by some very evil people. Cats are the absolute best and no animal deserves to be without a home or targeted to hurt and kill.
@@allnamestakenlol We have 3 right now but out of the 11 cats we've owned in my lifetime, 5 were pure black, two were black and white tuxedos, one was a gray tuxedo, one was pure gray, and one is white. The only anomaly was our one calico. We are all for taking the cats that are least likely to be adopted but should have been because they were amazing.❤️
Of all the cats I've loved in my life, the best was my big longhaired black house panther Murphy. It broke my heart when cancer took him at only age 10, and I miss him to this day. (RIP 2011)
@@AnimalisMD The year before I was born, my mom adopted our cat Spooky from a shelter. Apparently, he was on his last day before he would've been euthanized. The woman who helped her finalize the adoption hugged her because he was her favorite cat there and didn't want him to die. He then proceeded to live another 14 years with us, being put down at the age of 15. He was a large, black, shorthair and I loved him so much. He was so smart and loving. He would walk us to school and sleep with me in my bed all night. In a strange way, I almost expected to be there forever. I still miss him a lot.
This makes my heart swell with pride. For two reasons: This lady had allergies and still took the cat in. She then found a coping with it via the wipes. 2) That her Guardians recognised her talents and is keeping her intellectually stimulated. Cats have always been smart. Many people in the past have just failed to recognise this fact. At the end of the day, smart or not, they just want to be with their Guardians.
There are also lots of better allergen treatments than before. I am allergic to plant pollens outdoors, dust and all its components indoors, dog saliva, angora/rabbit dander or fur. So, lots of allergies my whole life. Currently take Montelukast which was a game changer for me b/c it cuts inflammation, not histamine. I take zyrtec generic for antihistamine, and fluticasone 50mcg spray, which has also made a huge difference in both ways. I've heard that you can get allergen treatments by pill sublingually, instead of shots, as well. Depending on the part of the cat you are allergic to, it makes perfect sense that wipes would help. My family had a dog with thick fur and she would big time just bring the pollen indoors after a walk. We got in the habit of wiping her down afterward and it made a huge difference for me, and also in her own allergies! Good luck to all present and future pet parents!
I love the way you took him in and just gave him your attention and care. I learned so much from this because I adopted a black cat who just showed up on my doorstep and chose me. You did so many wonderful things to help him adapt and to learn. He's so lucky to have you!
Black cats are the best!!! my family and I have had 6 black cats in my lifetime. All of them had such amazing and wonderful personalities. None of them were ever shy or mean.
Always nice to hear stories of how dog people became cat people 😊 Cats are really super smart, glad that Leonard found a loving home, he is just adorable 🥰
Why not just love both? Or all animals for that sake. Just only get the one that fits you and your lifestyle best. So many are given up to shelters or just thrown out to fend for themselves when they have too much energy or just other crappy reasons for why people let them go. Always be kind to animals!!!
People who only like dogs but not cats probably never had a good cat. Some cats are very shy or don't like people, but a lot of cats are extremely loving, friendly, social, playful, adorable, funny, and make great companions. A dog person who doesn't like cats just hasn't met the right cat.
I was the same way, I was always a dog person until I found a stray cat and took him in. Cats are just as loyal and smart as dogs are if you give them a chance.
Yep. I think people who don't know much about cats think they're always aloof and kind of stand-offish. In reality it just takes them a little time to warm up to a human they don't know much about. Once you get past that you're golden and their true personality will come out. Instead of the "too cool for school" image cats like to present they'll turn out to be loving sweethearts with a ton of personality.
@@Ass_of_Amalek no actually you can train cats if you are persistent. There is even a cat circus. I'm a little lazy, but I did teach my black cat to sit by holding up a finger, and to "flop", awesome to make biscuits on demand. He does them all, every time.
@@Ass_of_Amalek You can literally teach cats tricks. I have three cats, and I’ve taught them all basic tricks. Sit, stay, roll over, fetch, jump, and speak. It’s not that hard if you’re persistent.
This is THE most adorable thing I’ve seen on TH-cam in months! As a long time Cat Mama (who also loves dogs), I’m not surprised at Leonard. My cats know their name, play fetch and other things but aren’t nearly as smart as Leonard. See what happens when you open your heart and mind to other animals besides just one?❤
I've always been a dog guy too. I adopted a black cat in 2019, my first cat. He is incredibly smart and affectionate, and well behaved - just as much as any dog I have ever owned. I love him so much I adopted a tuxedo cat not long afterwards; she is not nearly as smart as the black cat but she is sweet too.
Black cats are amazing! I love tuxedo cats too. I have had both. Tuxedo cats are DIVAS!! they are royal cats lol but black cats are your buddy, tuxes your boss
I had a Tuxedo Cat. His name was Freckles, because of a small little black patch next to his nose. He would meow so loud whenever I had to leave to go to work. I didn't want to leave. He would sit in the window and wait and watch for me to come home. He would be waiting for me at the door. He would wrap his flexible furry body around my legs. I taught him to sit on a chair at the kitchen table. Every single time I would sit at the table he would meow and walk around the chair waiting for me to pull it out from under the table. He would jump right up and sit there. He used to sit so perfectly with his front paws touching each other. He would give me headbutts. He loved his belly being scratched. He passed away 2 years ago right before Christmas. A few days later I found a ladybug in my kitchen. I would like to think that was Freckles telling me that he was okay. He used to jump onto the counter and drink water from the sink, and then jump down onto the floor when he was done. I heard the sound of him jumping down onto the floor. I thought maybe I was just hearing things. I believe that was Freckles wanting one more drink from the sink. Everytime I came home from work I expected to find him waiting for me by the door......but this was after he passed away. I thought I was going to go crazy. I couldn't stop thinking about him. I want to get another cat, tuxedo of course, and name him Freckles.....but I would expect this car to act like him. But I haven't done that. I have always wanted an all black cat though. Maybe one day I'll get one. Sorry for my book about Freckles. Just wanted to share. I L💙VE YOU FRECKLES!! 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 I MISS YOU SO MUCH!! 🥺😞🥺😞🥺😞🥺😞🥺
I’ve never had a dog as smart as Leonard . What a little furry baby. Your all so lucky to have him. He’s brilliant. All cats are miserable in a shelter but it must have been a terrifying and emotionally painful for Leonard to have been abandoned by his human…he so needs love and attention. He must have had it a some point. Wonderful video . Extraordinary little being .
@@ephvc9663 I've had German Shepherd's which are considered one of the smartest dogs. And they really are but my last cat, a Siamese, was quite a lot smarter.
I worked at a local dog and cat sanctuary and when we get an animal returned, they don’t understand why their family is leaving and the heartbreak they go through is enough to to make you crazy. The runs for big dogs are so loud and busy and when a baby has been brought back they are in such a low place that this just makes it all worse. Nobody wants to think about those kind of things but they need to. My little dog was from there and he had been returned 4 times! 🤬No fault of his own. He wasn’t eating or allowing any of the other staff members in. So I go in, not knowing he’d been nipping as well. I just go in and start talking to him in a calm soothing voice and he liked me. So I brought him home as a foster. That night as hubby and I go to bed here comes our dog and he’s talking about how there will not be any dogs in this bed….LOL 8 years later, he’s slept in this bed since that first night at dads feet and every night since. Tho😅se two are inseparable. Cracks me up. But I digress. I learned the hard way about all the abuse, neglect and abandonment issues he had. But we have just loved him as he is and he such a different dog these days. He still will flinch sometimes when you come near his head and face, he’s very sensitive about quite a few things even now. So maybe people should see or know more about it because animals have souls and are not accessories that can be bought and returned later like it’s a dang purse! 🤬🤬 I am sooo happy for Leonard. He found the right forever home and that is fantastic! 🥳😽
I recently read cats have 30 million neurons to dogs' 25 million. Makes quite a lot of sense. To be expected, even, especially when considering their ability to manipulate objects manually. I don't think we can harness that intelligence to do our bidding as we can with dogs, clearly... yet. I have heard of cats being trained to sniff out disease. Cats are so perceptive of humans' emotions and thoughts, but their minds remain mysterious... It's that little bit of wildness that thrills me.
@@zekec6088 Think of it this way, cats are like little people. They have a mind of their own, they do things they want to do and when they want to do, just like humans. Its not wildness, its independence.
They say cats don’t do tricks, but not only will they do tricks they love doing them, and they do them mainly for the praise. They’re more motivated by praise than food.
In my entire life (62 years) I've never had as many toys I enjoyed playing with as does that lucky little bugger. Kudos to your daughter for her persistence visiting him in the shelter.
I am a Black Cat person. Since my first one as a child, I just fell in love with them. They're sassy, aloof, grumpy, playful, cuddly and very intelligent, I believe, more-so than other colours, but all in THEIR time and no one else's. Leonard is Beautiful and very smart, obviously. What a joy he must be ❤
@SEJJJJ People say this but I'm not sure I believe it. We can see that orange cats for example widely have certain recessive traits (something like 90% female) so I'm not sure why that wouldn't apply to other traits like temperament and personality
Bombays are just extremely intellegent cats. My cat use to turn on the tv and changes the channel on his own back in the day when cable television was common.
Most people with cats don't know how to interact with their cat. That's why so many people think this particular cat is exceptionally intelligent. All cats are smart enough to do this, some aren't social enough to learn it, most cats just aren't taught in any way that a cat should be taught. They treat cats like dogs and then assume they just can't learn tricks. A cat has to trust you implicitly first and foremost. They won't care what you have to say if you aren't close with them
@@bradbradford8576 Oh man Brad, Thank You!!!! YES! This is exactly what I was going to say, but you said it so well. I have done a lot of "cat-sitting " over the years and have been around a whole lot of cats. Most people don't realize just how intelligent their cat is because they don't know how to interact with their cat. 🐱
Thank you for posting this because it’s not staged. You sound like a nice person and your cat is incredible. I love both cats and dogs but I’ve never seen a cat like yours really cool
LoL! This little guy isn't a pet, he's a hooman in a cat body! Love how his forever mom didn't make assumptions about his limitations and gave him opportunities to learn!🥰
FANTASTIC! REALLY! (And BTW the reason the cat finally got your attention only to immediately run away meant that he wanted you to play by chasing him!) 😸
I love most all animals - dogs, capybaras, cows, chickens (surprisingly sweet & funny creatures!) but find cats especially amazing. Non-cat people can have the impression that cats are aloof or not very engaging, but they can be among the most perceptive and smart companions one can share a life with. So glad you & Leonard found each other! Nice bank shot, Leonard!
I used to live in an area where you'd find stays and abandoned cats, I found 3 and rehomed two. We failed with homing Penny Cat because we kept her. Keeping her from getting bored is a challenge, any game she quickly defeats and just empties all the treats out of it.
@@mariantreber8055 No she doesn't do fetch, you can throw Owly for her and then Owly Has To Die but that's it. It's to keep her entertained when we're not there/asleep. She loves her games, but they're all a bit too easy for her! We make them more difficult by making the treat holes smaller with tape
@Noxti!; chickens (chooks) are individuals and some clever and affectionate especially when open range. They can last 15 years with care, no eggs then though. Handling the chicks from day one helps, later they will want to sit on your lap where they do not poo. They will come when called and can be led around. Very hard to stop them eating your silver beet and veges, but they make good mouse catchers which they eat.
"I have this cat", is my opening statement when I'm trying to explain about my boy Romy. Friends call him my "cat-dog" cuz he's so smart and trained. He's also my service animal as he alerts me to my migraines before I even get an aura! Cats are so much more than ppl think, they just have a different body language than dogs, much more subtle and folks aren't used to that.
Exactly, they have unique personalities and more emotions than dogs have. Unlike dogs, you can pickup micro-expressions and a range of purring or meowing which indicates their mood (or whether they are hungry). Although I must admit I am a little biased having been chased by many a stupid dog with an equally ignorant owner whilst doing orienteering (running + navigating)
That's amazing. You are very blessed. I get dreaded migraines too, and would love to have a cat helper (I'm currently trying to tame a stray, black Bombay cat...so, we'll see). 😻
@@josie4peacetragically my poor Romy and his sister Sweetpea passed away a month ago due to old age. They were 15 and 16 respectively. I am broken hearted. The cat I had before them lived to be 22 so I wasn't expecting it this soon but the vet assured me it was a very old age. I can hardly imagine life without them... 😭
@@sweetpealee056 I'm so sorry about Romy and Sweetpea. I can relate as I lost my boy Bear (age 15) in June and his brother Wiley (age 14) in 2021. They are irreplaceable. I am praying for you.💖Hugs
its so nice to see when "dog people" find out that cats arent really as horrible as some of them think :) And what good companions they can make. Leonard has found a wonderful loving home. Thats more than many cats get considering how many end up in shelters every year...and the few of them that get another chance of finding a good home/ Thanks for adopting him, even tho it was slightly unplanned :D
Omg literally I have never seen anyone have so much fun and create so much with a cat. I want to get my cats a pool table now! These people are so creative and loving. I really enjoyed this family and meeting Leonard. It's after midnight and I'm sitting in bed LOL😂😂
I want to get one of those pool tables too! It looks like so much fun for them, especially when they work out how to sink one by hitting the other ball. Very clever!
I actually laughed out loud when you said, “He recently took up pool”. And every shot he hits the cue ball into the other balls to get them in. Amazing 🤩
This same thing happened to my husband and me when we had to take my daughter's cat for a few months. When she was ready to take him back, my husband told her to get a lawyer! I've never seen my husband bond with a cat, or any animal, to that degree. So sweet!
I love him! And I love you for taking the time to teach him alm those things that make many so happy. He sure made ME happy! Black cats are my favorite. Such gorgeous beauties!😻
I LOVE Leonard! 😺💋💚 I have 3 feral cats that chose to live with me. They won't come in, but I have put heated cat houses and a rain shelter out for them. It took them about six months to trust me enough to stay with me 24/7 - outside. They have lived with me for about two years. You made the right choice when you allowed Leonard to live with you. I'm so glad you shared his intelligence and joy with us.
Leonard looks like he must be @ least 50% Bombay breed. We had one for 15 years. Marvelous, gorgeous, intelligent, affectionate but EXTREMELY playful cats. The breed is known to almost universally play fetch with their hooman. But this Leonard of yours takes the cake! You trained him well! Thanks for sharing
Indeed Leonard does have the appearance, intelligence and sociability of a Bombay. Ours, a mostly Bombay named Andre is also an absolute treasure. Because of his many dog-like qualities we also call him Woofie. K&E Sklar.
Leonard does all that to make you happy because you’re his family, his colony. You do all sorts of stuff to make him happy and he’s just reciprocating. Rescues are always grateful and they never forget. He’s a puppy-cat.
I agree with you 100% . I currently have 5 cats and they are incredibly smart in their unique ways. If people just spent more time with animals and learnt to observe them more, we would be better human beings...
It's all about how you train and interact with them Treat them like dogs,they take on similar attributes.😊 I love this pool shark!!! "Sweet"😅❤ Always time to clean ,lol.
Right?! What's up with those people who hate cats. Like I want to hear their trash remarks. I need to tell them, "Oh yeah. And a person who needs to carry around a dog, in a sweater, like a substitute girlfriend, or dolly, is mentally healthy."
I took in two older stray kittens, and weeks later started having pretty severe allergies. I went to an allergist for tests, and the Dr. said I was a "10 out of 10" allergy to cats, and suggested I get rid of the two cats that I'd had for months. I said, "Let's try allergy shots first." I felt pretty good relief after the first months of shots, and gradually got where the allergies were tolerable. 19 years later both those kittens crossed the rainbow bridge after nearly two decades in my life. It was all worth every minute.
Keeping them was the right choice, sounds like they had long and happy lives.
May your grief be short, but your memories long, friend...thank you for giving them a good and loving home. Many don't get that opportunity.Good on ya for sticking it out and looking out for your cats' welfare! Too many get put on the street due to allergies....
Thank you for finding a solution that didn't involve getting rid of the cats!I had minimal cat allergies but they got worse over the years. Got the allergy shots and the allergies went away completely. I highly recommend getting allergy shots if you've got health insurance.
Awe, may the Lord bless you twofold. 😻
I’m so glad you did that! I have a little dog who can be aggressive and don’t feel it is safe to bring cats into the house. But, I do miss cats. I adopted 4 black kittens that were abandoned by the side of a road. They were the sweetest, funniest, most affectionate kitties imaginable. They lived to be very old and I really miss them
The more you interact with cats, the sooner you discover just how personable and intelligent they are.
You are right on!
Absolutely! Cat’s are beautiful and super intelligent, I adore them.😊
And they are also sassy, naughty at times and they have humor too. Mine does 😺
So true!!
... or any animal! They're all highly sentient beings, including the animals still being turned into food, not just cats or the animals we call pets.. People like to see them as dumb so they can use and abuse them.
Many people don't realize how amazing cats are.
True they are amazingly sentient animals. Humans who have been lucky enough to be bonded to a cat know that special love, and the ones who haven't are the ones making the stupid comments about how dogs feel it worse etc. If you're not bonded you wouldn't know what they are feeling!
@@mellawes533 Exactly.
What a lot of people don't realize is that cats actually get bonded to their humans more strongly than dogs in some ways. People think dogs are friendly because you can rehome them - go to a shelter, get a dog, and he'll be your best friend by the end of the day. But cats are so bonded to their first owners that being rehomed is often traumatic for them. They don't like you or trust you because you're not their real mom.
It takes effort, patience, and understanding of feline body language to bond to a cat that was already bonded to someone else. Some people do it naturally and intuitively, but most of us - even cat lovers - have no idea how to act around them.
@@twistysnacks still, adult cats that are in the shelter are very grateful when you rescue/adopt them. Even if they had someone before, they really appreciate it because they know what it’s like to lose their home.
@@fabulousbabe not always. Some of them are angry that they're losing the shelter as their home now. Depending on the shelter, at least - many of them now are "no-kill" shelters that provide more natural environments for cats, where they feel safer and get to be with other cats. The constant disruption can be extremely stressful for them.
Worst case scenario, you rescued them from a kill shelter where they were kept in a filthy crate with barely enough room to turn around.... and they're still panicking because as far as they know, you're the one who put them there after kidnapping them from their previous owner. I'm not saying that's true, just that cats aren't people and you can't communicate intent to them just by getting them from a shelter. Which is why I said it takes patience and effort... which not everyone is capable of offering.
I love how Leonard jumps through your arms but absolutely refuses to do it with your husband :D
That's the most cat thing, people think they're less intelligent than dogs for it, when really they just don't wanna.
Live long and prosper, Leonard.
I mean studies have proven that dogs are more intelligent than cats.
she definitely taught him that move! ha!
@@notchedbanditactually, they haven’t… they’ve found that dogs may have more neurons or larger brains but have admitted that that doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot as brain size and such doesn’t necessarily mean intelligence… the biggest issue is that cats and dogs were bred for different things… dogs were bred for doing tricks and companionship while cats were bred for hunting rodents and insects and eventually some companionship… dogs came from pack animals while cats came from solitary animals. Basically, cats were left as is to do what came naturally while dogs were continuously expected to do tricks and do jobs that had zero to do with their natural instincts. Do that with cats and you’ll find they’ll become more sociable and more likely to follow commands and do tricks.
@@notchedbandit Actually, dogs are just more social and are more dependent on humans, but they are not smarter.
@@ChaoticAngelKitten cats at least domestic cat species are absolutely not solitary animals lol
I was 100% a dog person… until I got a cat 😂 she stole my heart with her antics ❤
Yeah, that's great. I'm a both dog and cat person and sounds like you are too now. I can't understand why people don't like cats, they are just the most wonderful creatures. Adorable. So are dogs. Hahaha. Oh god I love my cat Lily so much. And my dogs too..
Awww Give your kitty an extra cuddle for me! 💓🐾💓
@@Catmom2004 awww so lovely thank you… and I would if I could☺️ I had that mad munchkin for 23 years - she slept vigilantly by my side through cancer treatments and depression like the little guardian Angel she was.
I lost her just a couple of years ago now, though I laugh thinking of her every day still 😆 crazy beautiful floofaloofa 😍 Hopefully you’re still a cat momma ☺️ and you can hug your Beans for me 🤗
My future wife was chinese and she told me she was allergic to cats.
after two weeks in my home Jojo had completely stole her heart.
I was too, biggest and best change in my life the day I found orphaned kittens
“People may surprise you with unexpected kindness. Dogs have a depth of loyalty that often we seem unworthy of. But the love of a cat is a blessing, a privilege in this world.” - Kinky Friedman
Once you have known the love of a cat, there is nothing else like it.
@@richardcline1337 indeed... for me, (x)4 🤪😜😉💚💙🩵
People surprise me with their unexpected references to Kinky Friedman, the original "Texas Jewboy," the "Asshole From El Paso." Wonderful!
@@gabriellakaterina6782, (X)7 for me.
There’s a poem that would make you cry. Algernon Swinburne’s “Ode To A Cat”.
It’s elegant and precious.
Leonard made my heart so much lighter. I wish his guardians to have many, many more years of making happy memories like these with him.
I wish for the same.😊
I wish I had a guardian that would give me toys to rip up and a box to do my business in :( if you're interested Jason...
Me too, I have cats and love them. ❤😼
@@buffnipz there’s definitely dudes that would be super interested. It’s 2023, there’s a lot of freaks out there 😂
@@Jamietheroadrunner Are you interested Jamie?
He has to be the smartest cat I’ve ever seen. She’s done an awesome job of training him and keeping him mentally stimulated.
Only reason most cats seem difficult to train is because they aren’t willing, not that they aren’t smart. Dogs want to please us because of their pack mentality but it’ll take an especially friendly and sociable cat to get the same result.
So it would seem.
Appart jumping through hoops made with hands it seems like pretty normal cat.
They just cherry picked bunch of clips where he pushes a ball into correct place. But somehow never 2 in a row. They likely just record him for long time until he finally scores a point.
Sadly I guess, i am a dog/rat person who brought home a cat and discovered she is as dumb as a pile of bricks.
Who actually got 'trained'?
I'm glad your daughter realizes how bonded Leonard is with you. He's wonderful and he loves you.
SO glad Leonard found a home worthy of his character and intelligence! Wishing you many, many years of fun and happiness with Leonard! Leonard is absolutely LOVABLE!
❤
He is smarter than me with those remotes.
@@jonaseggen2230haha. me, too.
@rennhoalohaloren6211. He sure is!! 😊🐈⬛
I inherited a black cat from my mom, after being petless for my entire adult life. I always preferred cats, because they were more independent, but I prefer the more colorful cats, like calico. The black cat was so laid back, affectionate, and quiet, that I knew right away, we would be friends for life, although I had already committed to that, when my mom went into assisted living. He passed at 19+ years, and if I ever get another cat, it will be a black rescue.😊
Yes, after my first black cat died, and I heard about how they were the last ones to be adopted, I decided my next conscious cat adoption would be an adult black cat, from a shelter. The second was an 8 year old female, who was loving and laid back. I recently had to put her down, but I'll never forget the love and fun times I had with dah kitties. ❤❤❤
@@vickbond008 our first cat was a black male with a full, bottle-brush tail. Beautiful boy! Had injuries sustained in a fight, including an infected facial laceration. He took to my girls (5&7yr old) right away, and they became his champions! We took him to the vet, got him neutered and had his shots, and loved him for 15 years! His passing was terribly hard on us!!! Waited about 4months, until I felt my heart was ready, went to the shelter and adopted the cat that had been there the longest, and have now had her for 8years❤
That’s so great black cats are the best!!! 🐈⬛❤️
When I went to adopt, the shelter was drowning in kittens and there were so many black ones left. One had an eye deformity, was underweight and the staff said she hated being picked up, so I knew the chances of her getting adopted were small. When I picked her up, she wouldn't let go of me, and that was it. Lucy was destined to be my cat. She was initially super shy but she flourished in no time. That was four years ago, and I hope I can give her just as long and happy a life as you did for your kitty! Black cats are magic! ❤
Similar thing happened to me! I was 14 when I first wanted a cat, my parents said yes and I initially wanted a black one because I thought black cats looked mysterious, sleek and cool. When we got to the home of the couple that was giving them away (her cat got pregnant) there were 2 black ones, a gray one and a couple others. The black ones ran away from me when I got close to them and I overheard the lady saying that male cats would have humping behavior if they didn't get neutered early and I had had a male rabbit that did a lot of humping so I was like oh no...I don't think I want a male cat and unfortunately both black ones were male. I ended up bringing home a gray one that was really chill and wasn't playing around much like the others, when I looked into her eyes something clicked and I thought "this one!". Best companion I could have ever asked for, got me through so much. She passed away from cancer at 18 years. I ended up adopting another gray cat because now I can't imagine life without a gray furball. She's totally different from my old cat, crazy, plays catch and dribbles her favorite ball with her front paws as if she were a soccer player, is always trying to hunt something, oh yeah she also came with her lazy orange tabby brother....😂
Thank you for taking in this little beauty. Even if Leonard were the dumbest cat in the world, every cat should be treated well and loved 🥰
I could watch that jump at 1:28 all day.
There are no such thing as dumb cats, most are at least as intelligent as Leonard or even smarter (my cat too), but are too humble to be the center of attention.
@@gabe.ch5555 Cats? Humble? HA!
@@salumbre365 cats are humble, just not when you demand them to be😻
How DARE you
I've been a dog person all of my life but at age 75 my daughter gave me a kitten for Christmas as I now live alone in a 1st floor apartment (ie upstairs) and I have grown to appreciate the qualities of life with a cat. Not as "in your face" as a dog but much quieter and still good company. AND, she doesn't bark.
Sure do hope, that your daughter loves your cat too. For a kitten at age 75 is a real risk of dying before that cat and then what? If you love that cat, make sure to make provisions for her future, in case yours is shorter.
@@gardenjoy5223Exactly! That is one of my fears when I see old people with a kitten or young cat.
@@gardenjoy5223 First of all, that's pretty damn rude to tell someone they're going to die soon. Second, a 75 year old can live for 20+ more years, and a 25 year old can die next week, depending on their health and luck, so why bring it up? And having a cat to care for and keep him happy will probably improve his quality of life and maybe even extend his lifespan, so better for both of them to have each other than him to be lonely and the kitten to be homeless.
@@FullMoonOctober Wow, and you think YOU are not rude?! Idiotic response.
The average life span of men in America has been 76 for a long time. Less in the last years with Covid.
I'm not saying he is going to die soon. I'm saying, he better has a plan for the possibility.
Besides, kittens don't have trouble finding a home as elderly cats do.
@@gardenjoy5223 sure hope you dont have any pets if you drive in a car. wouldnt want to leave that thing alone. make provisions!
jerk.
I always find it hilarious when "dog people" are so surprised by how intelligent cats really are. I live in a VERY small town about 12 minutes outside a town of about 150,000. So we have a LOT of people make the drive just to dump their cat they don't want anymore. That coupled with the strays already out there means we have a higher than average homeless cat population. I used to be allergic, but apparently grew out of it at some point. We ended up taking 2 in ourselves and finding homes for about 6 others. Our two boys are both INCREDIBLY smart. They want to know what everything is, how it works, what it's for, and if it's dangerous or not. They know exactly what to do to annoy me to the point where I'll get up to see what they want. (Opening kitchen cabinets just enough for it to bang shut over and over is just one of their preferred methods.) They are incredibly affectionate, love to cuddle, and are constantly making us laugh. They're even harness trained so they can go outside to visit the neighbors and smell EVERY SINGLE THING THAT EXISTS. If they didn't hate car rides so much, I'd take them everywhere. In conclusion, take my and the lady's advice in this video. Don't let being a "dog person" cause you to miss out on a VERY close and happy relationship with a cat. They just might surprise you. 😻
Thanks for taking in your boys! I would ask the city council or whomever has the authority to put cameras in those areas to capture the people dumping their pets. That's pure evil! They've been domesticated and have lost much of their natural hunting instincts and so they starve. Good luck with your fur babies! You are blessed!
Thanks for being a pet hero!
Thank you both so much! I actually have an idea for a charity I want to start. A BIG issue, at least in my area, is a severe lack of shelter space with nowhere for them to go when the shelter is full. We have a very small number of foster homes, and even the ones we do have the shelters won't work with because there's no way for oversight. My idea is a charity that encourages people to either become a foster home or take in more than they already have. In exchange for becoming a foster home in our charity and submitting to an initial walkthrough inspection and quarterly inspections thereafter, they would receive help in the form of food, medicine, vet bills, etc. We would then be able to keep track of openings in the foster homes and the shelters could call us to match an animal in need up with the proper foster home, and the shelter could rest easy knowing that only the best homes would be allowed to be members of our charity. Problem is, even just getting a charity legally started is VERY expensive! But I hope to get it done somehow. I want to call it Fosters for Furbabies.
Hey if you read comments here is an idea that i saw. Make the cat comfortable with the carrier so they will feel safe on the car ride inside a carrier. With foods and pets and whatever you can come up to to make the carrier a safe space for them :)
I also mostly grew out of my allergy to cats as I got older. Before then I was one of those people whose body builds up a tolerance if I'm around a specific cat (or cats) after awhile so I've had cats for most of my life. The only thing that still causes me problems is if they lick my fingers and I touch my eyes shortly thereafter. I'm very thankful my allergies didn't prevent me (or my family as I was growing up) from having cats because I absolutely adore them and can't imagine living a life without at least one cat to bring me happiness.
Animals are really wicked smart! Smarter then a lot of people.
I hate when people say they’re dumb. Clearly they are not. I feel like those people just don’t understand animals at all.
I’m glad someone adopted this little guy and gives him all the love in the world.
All animals deserve a great life.
Animal really do deserve a good life all of them they are so helpless in more than one way plus their cute and make great companions
Humans do not take the time to observe, and understand the subtleties of animals. We are so dependent on our words that we forget there are other ways to communicate! I retired from my work life to become a pet sitter, and I wish I had done it many many years ago! I love interacting with, and gaining the trust of all the pets that I care for! They understand us, why can’t we understand them?!❤
Thank you to you guys and your daughter for rescuing Leonard from the shelter. Black cats are both the most common and the least adopted, so a lot of incredible cats like him never find homes but you took a chance on him and saved him from possible euthanasia. We is an incredible, super intelligent cat and he deserves all the love he gives you and vice versa.❤
-A fellow Black Cat lover
Unfortunately when it's Halloween, black cats become targets to hurt and kill by some very evil people. Cats are the absolute best and no animal deserves to be without a home or targeted to hurt and kill.
Black cats *are* pretty great. We have two. ^^
@@allnamestakenlol We have 3 right now but out of the 11 cats we've owned in my lifetime, 5 were pure black, two were black and white tuxedos, one was a gray tuxedo, one was pure gray, and one is white. The only anomaly was our one calico. We are all for taking the cats that are least likely to be adopted but should have been because they were amazing.❤️
Of all the cats I've loved in my life, the best was my big longhaired black house panther Murphy. It broke my heart when cancer took him at only age 10, and I miss him to this day. (RIP 2011)
@@AnimalisMD The year before I was born, my mom adopted our cat Spooky from a shelter. Apparently, he was on his last day before he would've been euthanized. The woman who helped her finalize the adoption hugged her because he was her favorite cat there and didn't want him to die. He then proceeded to live another 14 years with us, being put down at the age of 15. He was a large, black, shorthair and I loved him so much. He was so smart and loving. He would walk us to school and sleep with me in my bed all night. In a strange way, I almost expected to be there forever. I still miss him a lot.
This makes my heart swell with pride. For two reasons:
This lady had allergies and still took the cat in. She then found a coping with it via the wipes.
2) That her Guardians recognised her talents and is keeping her intellectually stimulated.
Cats have always been smart. Many people in the past have just failed to recognise this fact.
At the end of the day, smart or not, they just want to be with their Guardians.
There are also lots of better allergen treatments than before. I am allergic to plant pollens outdoors, dust and all its components indoors, dog saliva, angora/rabbit dander or fur. So, lots of allergies my whole life. Currently take Montelukast which was a game changer for me b/c it cuts inflammation, not histamine. I take zyrtec generic for antihistamine, and fluticasone 50mcg spray, which has also made a huge difference in both ways. I've heard that you can get allergen treatments by pill sublingually, instead of shots, as well. Depending on the part of the cat you are allergic to, it makes perfect sense that wipes would help. My family had a dog with thick fur and she would big time just bring the pollen indoors after a walk. We got in the habit of wiping her down afterward and it made a huge difference for me, and also in her own allergies! Good luck to all present and future pet parents!
People have allergies when they don't want a cat but when they decide to have a cat then they lose their allergies for cats.
The allergy goes away after your immunity builds by being around them
How did you miss the fact that she constantly refers to the cat as "he/him/his"? Through both audio and the captions?
Leonard wormed his way into ur hearts
What a wonderful, rich environment these people have given to this kitty!
I love the way you took him in and just gave him your attention and care. I learned so much from this because I adopted a black cat who just showed up on my doorstep and chose me. You did so many wonderful things to help him adapt and to learn. He's so lucky to have you!
Thank you for adopting a black cat. They are over looked so much.
Black cats are the best!!! my family and I have had 6 black cats in my lifetime. All of them had such amazing and wonderful personalities. None of them were ever shy or mean.
What a blessing he is! If only more four-legged friends were given the opportunity.....😔
I think the 4 legged friends are given too much opportunity... What about crustaceans and legless slug friends? :(
@@buffnipz
That's food bruh
He's a precious soul and so smart. He reminds me of my little Matilda, may she RIP. I've been without her for over a month and I miss her every day. 💔
I am sorry for your loss. Me and my wife think cats are fantastic, especially Norwegian forest cats.
Peace and many blessings to you in your time of grief.
@@carenburmeister5002 Thank you so much, may God bless your soul. ❤
@@eightiesmusic1984 I also think cats are wonderful creatures. They are little angels. Have a nice day.
I'm sorry. And on Matilda's behalf, thank you for all your love and care.
How amazing this cat is!
I hate it when people say cats have "dog like qualities" when it's just the way lots of cats are.
Exactly...
True!!
so true!!
Leonard just keeps finding ways to show you his love and his wit. Such a wonderful boy.
Always nice to hear stories of how dog people became cat people 😊 Cats are really super smart, glad that Leonard found a loving home, he is just adorable 🥰
I've had several cats over the years, none of them were this smart!
Why not just love both? Or all animals for that sake. Just only get the one that fits you and your lifestyle best. So many are given up to shelters or just thrown out to fend for themselves when they have too much energy or just other crappy reasons for why people let them go. Always be kind to animals!!!
@@pauldzim or they just dont care xD
"dog people become cat people" ?
I don't think so
They will love both
People who only like dogs but not cats probably never had a good cat. Some cats are very shy or don't like people, but a lot of cats are extremely loving, friendly, social, playful, adorable, funny, and make great companions. A dog person who doesn't like cats just hasn't met the right cat.
For people who weren’t cat people, they did an amazing job!
I love black cats. What a sweet and intelligent kitty 🖤
Leonard is absolutely amazing!!! 😊❤🧡💗💓💞💕💖💛💜🤎💙
I was the same way, I was always a dog person until I found a stray cat and took him in. Cats are just as loyal and smart as dogs are if you give them a chance.
Yep. I think people who don't know much about cats think they're always aloof and kind of stand-offish. In reality it just takes them a little time to warm up to a human they don't know much about. Once you get past that you're golden and their true personality will come out. Instead of the "too cool for school" image cats like to present they'll turn out to be loving sweethearts with a ton of personality.
How did you teach an adult cat ALL these tricks?! Amazing!
it's a compilation of successes, the cat definitely does not do all that with any reliability.
@@Ass_of_Amalek Hater
@@liquidityprovider1 *facter
@@Ass_of_Amalek no actually you can train cats if you are persistent. There is even a cat circus. I'm a little lazy, but I did teach my black cat to sit by holding up a finger, and to "flop", awesome to make biscuits on demand. He does them all, every time.
@@Ass_of_Amalek You can literally teach cats tricks. I have three cats, and I’ve taught them all basic tricks. Sit, stay, roll over, fetch, jump, and speak. It’s not that hard if you’re persistent.
Clearly he’s a mama’s boy 😂 Very smart cat! Thank you for rescuing him. ❤
Wow Leonard is extremely smart and extremely cute. I love the silent meows, my cat does them to but not so often..😊
This is THE most adorable thing I’ve seen on TH-cam in months!
As a long time Cat Mama (who also loves dogs), I’m not surprised at Leonard. My cats know their name, play fetch and other things but aren’t nearly as smart as Leonard.
See what happens when you open your heart and mind to other animals besides just one?❤
I've always been a dog guy too. I adopted a black cat in 2019, my first cat. He is incredibly smart and affectionate, and well behaved - just as much as any dog I have ever owned. I love him so much I adopted a tuxedo cat not long afterwards; she is not nearly as smart as the black cat but she is sweet too.
Thank you for getting a friend for him!
Ive had 4 Black Cats thru out my life...They truly are a special breed
Black cats are amazing! I love tuxedo cats too. I have had both. Tuxedo cats are DIVAS!! they are royal cats lol but black cats are your buddy, tuxes your boss
Tuxedos from my experience have always been a little dumb 😂❤
I had a Tuxedo Cat.
His name was Freckles, because of a small little black patch next to his nose.
He would meow so loud whenever I had to leave to go to work.
I didn't want to leave.
He would sit in the window and wait and watch for me to come home.
He would be waiting for me at the door.
He would wrap his flexible furry body around my legs.
I taught him to sit on a chair at the kitchen table.
Every single time I would sit at the table he would meow and walk around the chair waiting for me to pull it out from under the table.
He would jump right up and sit there.
He used to sit so perfectly with his front paws touching each other.
He would give me headbutts.
He loved his belly being scratched.
He passed away 2 years ago right before Christmas.
A few days later I found a ladybug in my kitchen.
I would like to think that was Freckles telling me that he was okay.
He used to jump onto the counter and drink water from the sink, and then jump down onto the floor when he was done.
I heard the sound of him jumping down onto the floor.
I thought maybe I was just hearing things.
I believe that was Freckles wanting one more drink from the sink.
Everytime I came home from work I expected to find him waiting for me by the door......but this was after he passed away.
I thought I was going to go crazy.
I couldn't stop thinking about him.
I want to get another cat, tuxedo of course, and name him Freckles.....but I would expect this car to act like him.
But I haven't done that.
I have always wanted an all black cat though.
Maybe one day I'll get one.
Sorry for my book about Freckles.
Just wanted to share.
I L💙VE YOU FRECKLES!!
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
I MISS YOU SO MUCH!!
🥺😞🥺😞🥺😞🥺😞🥺
I’ve never had a dog as smart as Leonard . What a little furry baby. Your all so lucky to have him. He’s brilliant. All cats are miserable in a shelter but it must have been a terrifying and emotionally painful for Leonard to have been abandoned by his human…he so needs love and attention. He must have had it a some point. Wonderful video . Extraordinary little being .
Well you should get a doberman. That dog is too smart.
@@ephvc9663 I've had German Shepherd's which are considered one of the smartest dogs. And they really are but my last cat, a Siamese, was quite a lot smarter.
I worked at a local dog and cat sanctuary and when we get an animal returned, they don’t understand why their family is leaving and the heartbreak they go through is enough to to make you crazy. The runs for big dogs are so loud and busy and when a baby has been brought back they are in such a low place that this just makes it all worse. Nobody wants to think about those kind of things but they need to. My little dog was from there and he had been returned 4 times! 🤬No fault of his own. He wasn’t eating or allowing any of the other staff members in. So I go in, not knowing he’d been nipping as well. I just go in and start talking to him in a calm soothing voice and he liked me. So I brought him home as a foster. That night as hubby and I go to bed here comes our dog and he’s talking about how there will not be any dogs in this bed….LOL 8 years later, he’s slept in this bed since that first night at dads feet and every night since. Tho😅se two are inseparable. Cracks me up. But I digress.
I learned the hard way about all the abuse, neglect and abandonment issues he had. But we have just loved him as he is and he such a different dog these days. He still will flinch sometimes when you come near his head and face, he’s very sensitive about quite a few things even now. So maybe people should see or know more about it because animals have souls and are not accessories that can be bought and returned later like it’s a dang purse! 🤬🤬
I am sooo happy for Leonard. He found the right forever home and that is fantastic! 🥳😽
I recently read cats have 30 million neurons to dogs' 25 million. Makes quite a lot of sense. To be expected, even, especially when considering their ability to manipulate objects manually. I don't think we can harness that intelligence to do our bidding as we can with dogs, clearly... yet. I have heard of cats being trained to sniff out disease. Cats are so perceptive of humans' emotions and thoughts, but their minds remain mysterious... It's that little bit of wildness that thrills me.
@@zekec6088 Think of it this way, cats are like little people. They have a mind of their own, they do things they want to do and when they want to do, just like humans. Its not wildness, its independence.
What a beautiful boy you have! Thank you for sharing Leonard with us. He is amazing and wonderful! 🌬💜✌
This cat is amazing! I love that the owner took the initiative to teach Leonard how to do things. I’ve never seen a cat do this. Great story!
They say cats don’t do tricks, but not only will they do tricks they love doing them, and they do them mainly for the praise. They’re more motivated by praise than food.
What clever kitty 😺. Gorgeous black cat 🐈⬛️.
In my entire life (62 years) I've never had as many toys I enjoyed playing with as does that lucky little bugger. Kudos to your daughter for her persistence visiting him in the shelter.
I am a Black Cat person. Since my first one as a child, I just fell in love with them. They're sassy, aloof, grumpy, playful, cuddly and very intelligent, I believe, more-so than other colours, but all in THEIR time and no one else's. Leonard is Beautiful and very smart, obviously. What a joy he must be ❤
I love my blu, and my cremepoint kitty, but my panther is the king😻😻😻
House panthers are the best! ❤
Orange boys are very affectionate.
I love black cats too but that color has nothing to do with their intelligence or personality traits.
@SEJJJJ People say this but I'm not sure I believe it. We can see that orange cats for example widely have certain recessive traits (something like 90% female) so I'm not sure why that wouldn't apply to other traits like temperament and personality
Leonard is exceptionally intelligent I think, it's beyond the attitude and choosing to please the owners, the snooker skills are amazing!
Bombays are just extremely intellegent cats. My cat use to turn on the tv and changes the channel on his own back in the day when cable television was common.
Most people with cats don't know how to interact with their cat. That's why so many people think this particular cat is exceptionally intelligent. All cats are smart enough to do this, some aren't social enough to learn it, most cats just aren't taught in any way that a cat should be taught. They treat cats like dogs and then assume they just can't learn tricks. A cat has to trust you implicitly first and foremost. They won't care what you have to say if you aren't close with them
@@bradbradford8576 Oh man Brad, Thank You!!!! YES! This is exactly what I was going to say, but you said it so well. I have done a lot of "cat-sitting " over the years and have been around a whole lot of cats. Most people don't realize just how intelligent their cat is because they don't know how to interact with their cat. 🐱
Thank you for posting this because it’s not staged. You sound like a nice person and your cat is incredible. I love both cats and dogs but I’ve never seen a cat like yours really cool
Now that is one smart fur baby! 💕💕
Leonard is such a sweet and intelligent cat! It is amazing how much you have taught him, and allowed him to flourish! Awesome.
Er... I think you meant how much Leonard has taught HER, and allowed her to teach him what he wants to learn :D
LoL! This little guy isn't a pet, he's a hooman in a cat body! Love how his forever mom didn't make assumptions about his limitations and gave him opportunities to learn!🥰
Precious and smart😍🐈. Glad he was adopted.
Cats are legendary and wonderful to be around...❤❤❤💯
What an incredible and beautiful cat!
Best part of the story: this wonderful animal was adopted from the shelter! Don't go to breeders, folks.
My dog would be ringing that bell continuously.
FANTASTIC! REALLY! (And BTW the reason the cat finally got your attention only to immediately run away meant that he wanted you to play by chasing him!) 😸
Leonard is a wonderful cat with an ncredible personality... you're so lucky to have each other.
I love most all animals - dogs, capybaras, cows, chickens (surprisingly sweet & funny creatures!) but find cats especially amazing. Non-cat people can have the impression that cats are aloof or not very engaging, but they can be among the most perceptive and smart companions one can share a life with. So glad you & Leonard found each other! Nice bank shot, Leonard!
Christopher, so true. I've had both dogs and cats. My last cat helped me thru a crisis. I miss him!! I'm now stuck on black cats.
I used to live in an area where you'd find stays and abandoned cats, I found 3 and rehomed two.
We failed with homing Penny Cat because we kept her.
Keeping her from getting bored is a challenge, any game she quickly defeats and just empties all the treats out of it.
@@MostlyPennyCat Maybe she's a "fetcher." Do you have a little rubber ball to throw?
@@mariantreber8055
No she doesn't do fetch, you can throw Owly for her and then Owly Has To Die but that's it.
It's to keep her entertained when we're not there/asleep.
She loves her games, but they're all a bit too easy for her!
We make them more difficult by making the treat holes smaller with tape
@Noxti!; chickens (chooks) are individuals and some clever and affectionate especially when open range. They can last 15 years with care, no eggs then though. Handling the chicks from day one helps, later they will want to sit on your lap where they do not poo. They will come when called and can be led around. Very hard to stop them eating your silver beet and veges, but they make good mouse catchers which they eat.
I don't think I've ever smiled for 4 minutes and 31 seconds straight in my life!! 😊 What an amazing floof!!!
🥰
Seriously tho lmao
"I have this cat", is my opening statement when I'm trying to explain about my boy Romy. Friends call him my "cat-dog" cuz he's so smart and trained. He's also my service animal as he alerts me to my migraines before I even get an aura! Cats are so much more than ppl think, they just have a different body language than dogs, much more subtle and folks aren't used to that.
Exactly, they have unique personalities and more emotions than dogs have. Unlike dogs, you can pickup micro-expressions and a range of purring or meowing which indicates their mood (or whether they are hungry).
Although I must admit I am a little biased having been chased by many a stupid dog with an equally ignorant owner whilst doing orienteering (running + navigating)
That's amazing. You are very blessed. I get dreaded migraines too, and would love to have a cat helper (I'm currently trying to tame a stray, black Bombay cat...so, we'll see). 😻
@@josie4peacetragically my poor Romy and his sister Sweetpea passed away a month ago due to old age. They were 15 and 16 respectively. I am broken hearted. The cat I had before them lived to be 22 so I wasn't expecting it this soon but the vet assured me it was a very old age. I can hardly imagine life without them... 😭
@@sweetpealee056 I'm so sorry about Romy and Sweetpea. I can relate as I lost my boy Bear (age 15) in June and his brother Wiley (age 14) in 2021. They are irreplaceable. I am praying for you.💖Hugs
@@josie4peace sorry about your Bear and Wiley, it's going to be a while before I can even think of getting another...thank you and be blessed 🙏❤️
What a smart, beautiful cat. ❤❤
its so nice to see when "dog people" find out that cats arent really as horrible as some of them think :) And what good companions they can make. Leonard has found a wonderful loving home. Thats more than many cats get considering how many end up in shelters every year...and the few of them that get another chance of finding a good home/ Thanks for adopting him, even tho it was slightly unplanned :D
Omg literally I have never seen anyone have so much fun and create so much with a cat. I want to get my cats a pool table now! These people are so creative and loving. I really enjoyed this family and meeting Leonard. It's after midnight and I'm sitting in bed LOL😂😂
You are so sweet. Leonard is very easy to love. ❤️
I want to get one of those pool tables too! It looks like so much fun for them, especially when they work out how to sink one by hitting the other ball. Very clever!
Leonard is a smart boy and sooo handsome 🐈⬛
I actually laughed out loud when you said, “He recently took up pool”. And every shot he hits the cue ball into the other balls to get them in. Amazing 🤩
Love Leonard so much! Have to say, black cats steal my heart. Best wishes!
This same thing happened to my husband and me when we had to take my daughter's cat for a few months. When she was ready to take him back, my husband told her to get a lawyer! I've never seen my husband bond with a cat, or any animal, to that degree. So sweet!
Get a lawyer!..that's so funny. Gotta love a man that loves cats!
😂
"Get a lawyer." That's hilarious.
*husband and I 🤦
😭
U didn't know cats were way smart.. they aren't dog qualities...cats are just smart
Exactly
Reminds me of my old cat Frankie, she was a fearless cat that was too smart for her own good, been 6 years and I still miss her to this day
I love this story. What a cut cat. I had 2 black cats in the past and dearly miss them. Such a joy.
BRILLIANT BACKYARD HARNESS IDEA & IMPLEMENTATION! WELL DONE! 👍😺
What a special and very smart cat Leonard is, I think he came into your life for a reason!!
I love him! And I love you for taking the time to teach him alm those things that make many so happy. He sure made ME happy! Black cats are my favorite. Such gorgeous beauties!😻
He's so wonderful.❤
He's so smart! I love the bell ding, and he gets instant gratification 😊
Very funny and lovable even the 2nd time watching this.
I love cats!!!! I have a black cat too! 🐈⬛ ❤️❤️❤️
He is one of THE smartest cats I have ever seen!!! Such blessing! 😍😍😍
I LOVE Leonard! 😺💋💚 I have 3 feral cats that chose to live with me. They won't come in, but I have put heated cat houses and a rain shelter out for them. It took them about six months to trust me enough to stay with me 24/7 - outside. They have lived with me for about two years. You made the right choice when you allowed Leonard to live with you. I'm so glad you shared his intelligence and joy with us.
What a smart cat! You've done an amazing job teaching all those things. Congratulations. Enjoy him
What an interesting and amusing cat Leonard is! Thnx for posting this video. Happy trails to you both!
What a great cat and greater owners! The idea about keeping him from going through the fence was pure genius ❤
Leonard looks like he must be @ least 50% Bombay breed. We had one for 15 years. Marvelous, gorgeous, intelligent, affectionate but EXTREMELY playful cats. The breed is known to almost universally play fetch with their hooman. But this Leonard of yours takes the cake! You trained him well! Thanks for sharing
I agree. This cat is showing all the traits of a Bombay cat.
Indeed Leonard does have the appearance, intelligence and sociability of a Bombay. Ours, a mostly Bombay named Andre is also an absolute treasure. Because of his many dog-like qualities we also call him Woofie. K&E Sklar.
Super cute and furry cat :)
Your done such a great job..training him..clever boy❤
What an awesome cat. Thank you for sharing.
Leonard is amazing!!!! He is so talented and smart. I'm so glad he was adopted by the perfect family. Love you Leonard 😍❤❤❤
This cat is living his best life, but that dinner bell has got me 😂 rock'd! 💀
3:44 "Leonard, let's dance!" ❤❤❤ OMG the way he stands upright and reaches our for her with both front paws!
What a gorgeous cat and smart too.
adorable & amazing
Leonard does all that to make you happy because you’re his family, his colony. You do all sorts of stuff to make him happy and he’s just reciprocating. Rescues are always grateful and they never forget. He’s a puppy-cat.
Most cats are this intelligent when they are trained, played with and interacted with every day ❤
True. And respected! Respecting a cat is very important, it brings out their purrsonality!
I agree with you 100% . I currently have 5 cats and they are incredibly smart in their unique ways. If people just spent more time with animals and learnt to observe them more, we would be better human beings...
You won the cat lottery with Leonard. He's super special.
Glad to see that Leonard has such a loving family. Just one little thing - you didn't adopt Leonard, he adopted you.
Who are you People ?? Amazingly creative, smart owners ! So much engagement with a cat
😘❤️
It's all about how you train and interact with them
Treat them like dogs,they take on similar attributes.😊
I love this pool shark!!! "Sweet"😅❤
Always time to clean ,lol.
He's just so darned CUTE! Kitty playing pool is really adorable. Kitteh! Adorbs...
Having had cats all my life? Glad you found out that cats are very smart and usually very very loyal to one person in a family.
So many great animals stuck in shelters. Glad Leonard was rescued.
😻😇🐾💯😉This gorgeous black panther, not only is Leonard he is EINSTEIN! Congratulations for becoming a wonderful cat person! 👏🐾💐😻🙏
I would love to have a cat like Leonard ❤😊 so cute & smart 🥰
Leonard looks like a great candidate for the speaking buttons, he has the intelligence and interest i think for them to work well
Insecure people: "Cats aren't smart!!!"
The cat: Plays pool like a world champion.
How would u know?
@@ayjanyusuf6047we cat people just know
Right?! What's up with those people who hate cats. Like I want to hear their trash remarks.
I need to tell them, "Oh yeah. And a person who needs to carry around a dog, in a sweater, like a substitute girlfriend, or dolly, is mentally healthy."
@karlthorsten9118. I agree with you completely!!