Barney

The Story of LT

by Joseph S Bonsall

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If you have read any of my bios or PR info sheets over the passing years you would have noticed that it is always mentioned that Mary and I have so many cats and we always list their names. The name LT has always been mentioned and here is his unique story…

A wild little feral kitty showed up outside of our humble abode almost eight years ago. He looked so much like our beloved Sally Ann that we panicked thinking that she might have gotten out somehow. When we realized that Sally was laying curled up safe and sound in her bed we looked out the window and stared at this rough looking little creature who was already in the process of backing away with every feline defensive mechanism in high gear.

Mary, as is her way started putting out food and water for the strange little visitor who became known for awhile as Sally Ann’s “doppelganger”

One day as we were again admiring this little pinched face tough guy from afar Mary mentioned that he was such a Little Tyke and eventually LT became his name. In eight years we have never even touched this little guy although he has dined on our upper deck the whole time and occasionally sleeps in the sun within sight and has always managed to mark his territory with a nice healthy pee in the catnip plants.

Years ago when our Callie showed up in like fashion it was much the same. She was a beautiful little girl kitty that was seemingly abused and then dumped. It took years for Mary to get close enough to her to pet her and show her love. Callie NOW lives inside and is very happy but LT is another story.

Through the coldest winters and hottest summers he has managed to survive. There have been times he has disappeared for awhile and we have always feared the worst for the little fellow but then one day there he would be… keeping his distance but happy for the handout. I would get a call from Mary while on the road with the good news that LT was here today and somehow the thought would bring a smile and some inner comfort.

If he were a human he would be in Special Ops for certain but year after year of facing raccoons and foxes and dogs and other cats to say nothing of cars and trucks or bad food usually results in a bad ending. This is the price that is paid is for an outdoor cat no matter how tough he might be.

We have not seen him now for over three months so we obviously fear the worst for the little guy.

The sad part is that he just seemed so alone. But as you know there are those who choose to be alone and exist just fine but still… just once we would have loved to have held the little guy and petted him and let him know that we cared about him even though it might seem that most of the world did not.

We never knew where he came from or where he went when he would leave us. Perhaps he HAS a home somewhere and perhaps he is there now lying down beside a fireplace in a nice warm bed. Perhaps somewhere in his heart he thinks about those two humans who fed him when he was hungry and put out a place for him to rest while on his journey all the while peering at him through a window.

It would be nice if all of that were true but Mary and I are pretty sure in our hearts that our rugged little slow walking pinched faced little LT has journeyed beyond us to The Better Place.

So goodbye Little Tyke… We DID love and admire you so very much. God please take care of this little fellow. Someone up there PLEASE pick him up and pet him for a while and assure him that he is loved! We have ALWAYS loved him!

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	The Story of LT by Joseph S Bonsall If you have read any of my bios or PR info sheets over the passing years you would have noticed that it is always mentioned that Mary and I have so many cats and we always list their names. The name LT has always been mentioned and here is his unique story… A wild little feral kitty showed up outside of our humble abode almost eight years ago. He looked so much like our beloved Sally Ann that we panicked thinking that she might have gotten out somehow. When we realized that Sally was laying curled up safe and sound in her bed we looked out the window and stared at this rough looking little creature who was already in the process of backing away with every feline defensive mechanism in high gear. Mary, as is her way started putting out food and water for the strange little visitor who became known for awhile as Sally Ann’s “doppelganger” One day as we were again admiring this little pinched face tough guy from afar Mary mentioned that he was such a Little Tyke and eventually LT became his name. In eight years we have never even touched this little guy although he has dined on our upper deck the whole time and occasionally sleeps in the sun within sight and has always managed to mark his territory with a nice healthy pee in the catnip plants. Years ago when our Callie showed up in like fashion it was much the same. She was a beautiful little girl kitty that was seemingly abused and then dumped. It took years for Mary to get close enough to her to pet her and show her love. Callie NOW lives inside and is very happy but LT is another story. Through the coldest winters and hottest summers he has managed to survive. There have been times he has disappeared for awhile and we have always feared the worst for the little fellow but then one day there he would be… keeping his distance but happy for the handout. I would get a call from Mary while on the road with the good news that LT was here today and somehow the thought would bring a smile and some inner comfort. If he were a human he would be in Special Ops for certain but year after year of facing raccoons and foxes and dogs and other cats to say nothing of cars and trucks or bad food usually results in a bad ending. This is the price that is paid is for an outdoor cat no matter how tough he might be. We have not seen him now for over three months so we obviously fear the worst for the little guy. The sad part is that he just seemed so alone. But as you know there are those who choose to be alone and exist just fine but still… just once we would have loved to have held the little guy and petted him and let him know that we cared about him even though it might seem that most of the world did not. We never knew where he came from or where he went when he would leave us. Perhaps he HAS a home somewhere and perhaps he is there now lying down beside a fireplace in a nice warm bed. Perhaps somewhere in his heart he thinks about those two humans who fed him when he was hungry and put out a place for him to rest while on his journey all the while peering at him through a window. It would be nice if all of that were true but Mary and I are pretty sure in our hearts that our rugged little slow walking pinched faced little LT has journeyed beyond us to The Better Place. So goodbye Little Tyke… We DID love and admire you so very much. God please take care of this little fellow. Someone up there PLEASE pick him up and pet him for a while and assure him that he is loved! We have ALWAYS loved him!