In July of 2010, I bought my first home. I hadn’t had a cat since I was 18, but shortly after moving in, a co-worker and friend messaged me asking if I’d like “an all-black kitty.” I’d never told my friend about my last cat, Slick—also an all-black kitty—and I’d never mentioned that I was pondering bringing a new friend into my life and new home. It was all too serendipitous not to give it some serious thought.

On August 26, 2010, Leon moved in.

The first couple of years were everything you’d expect with a kitten. As each of us discovered the other’s personalities, it became obvious we were the perfect match. He wasn’t the type of cat that would sit in your lap for hours on end, but I could pick him up and carry him under my arm around the house endlessly. When I’d come home from work, he’d run to the door for the most aggressive belly pets you could imagine. At night, he slept at the foot of my bed. Every. Single. Night.

On March 17, 2014, he was diagnosed with Feline Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Sclerosing Fibroplasia. This was something I’d never heard of before, and the prognosis was quite bleak. After learning more about it, I feared the worst, but through the guidance, patience, and care of Leon’s primary veterinarian and clinic, we found a way to manage his condition and give him a fairly normal life. Over the years, he started to have more and more ailments, but again, with the help of a very caring team of medical professionals, we found what worked.

2025 was a tough year. In the spring, Leon was diagnosed with feline diabetes. It took months to finally get it under control, but shortly after we did, Leon had a serious medical emergency. It was clear it was time to say goodbye. It was the toughest decision I’d ever had to make, but I knew Leon was no longer going to have the quality of life he deserved. My home is sadly very quiet now and feels very empty when I walk through the door, but I know my decision was made in his best interests.

Anyone can tell you pets are not merely something we bring into our homes as objects. They become our friends, a part of our families, a piece of our lives and who we are. Leon was no exception. He may not have always been the friendliest kitty to strangers, but he was my buddy, and my life was so much better with him in it. His presence made me a better human being.

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Shawn McIver