I was sitting in the back of a van on an October day. The breeder was holding two female Seal Point Siamese that were 3 months old. I'd just lost my cat, Claw nine days before and we'd driven halfway down state to decide between these two kittens and which one I wanted.
As the breeder talked, she kept trying to push the one in her left hand towards me. The kitten was lighter in color and was a bit more spunky. I paid no attention as my focus was on the skittish one in her right hand. This kitten was darker in color and was obviously more scared than the other one. The breeder tried again to sell me the lighter kitten, but my mind was made up. The breeder was hesitant, but finally agreed. I received the kitten's purebred lineage papers and my first traditional Seal Point Siamese. We headed home.
As we were driving home, trying to think of a name and Mark says, "Princess Leia." I laughed, because it fit. It was perfect. She was our little Princess. And yes, Star Wars is my favorite movie!
My love for Siamese goes back to early childhood. The neighbors that lived in back of us, had two Siamese. They were quite old cats when I met them. Their names were Ping and Pong. Which I always thought were such cool names for the breed. I was fascinated with them. I don't remember what kind of interaction I had with them, but I was in love.
The Disney classic, "Lady and the Tramp," was another that shaped my interest in the breed. The two Siamese cats that got Lady into all kinds of trouble. "We are Siamese if you please. We are Siamese if you don't please," the cats sang. I was still in love, even though the cats got Lady kick out of the house. Which was a first for me, because I always rooted for the dog, but these cats had me spellbound. lol
And then there was Claw, the cat I had just lost to cancer 9 days earlier. I had suspected for a while that she was at least part Siamese. Even though she looked like a grey tabby, she had large ears, a long, skinny tail, a sleek body, along with that infamous Siamese screech. It was Claw and those childhood dreams that lead me to search for a traditional looking Siamese. Dark face, paws and tail with a lighter body. And when I left that day with Princess Leia, I stopped grieving for Claw. It was like they were twins in the same body. I never lost Claw, I gained Leia with Claw right there. In fact, I used their names interchangeably throughout Leia's life.
Princess Leia was a very quirky cat. She was skittish, but not afraid. She was tiny and quick. She was dainty but bold. She really was a mixed bag. She had no problem getting around six dogs. Fiona was especially fascinated with Leia. She didn't chase Leia, but she made it known she could. Leia outmaneuvered her with no problem.
One time Leia was sniffing Brut's back leg while he lay chewing on a bone. I held my breath! Brut and food made him aggressive. Leia finally left him with no incident. She could be very brave at times.
Leia was a hidey cat. If anyone came over she was gone. No one but us has ever seen her. She also ran from us. She hated being picked up and held. In typical cat form, it had to be her decision.
One of my favorite times with her was when she would lay on my chest. We would take little naps and she would crawl on me for a little siesta. She did do something that was weird when I would pet her, Leia would rub her fangs on the back of my hand. Never knew why. As she got older and we lost the dogs, she became more insistent with this behavior. Someone I mentioned this to recently, thought it might be a nursing/nurturing behavior. All I know is that she did it all the time and it was a creepy feeling for me.
Wherever Princess Leia was, Boxer wasn't too far behind. These two were quite bonded. Almost always cuddling together. Chasing and playing together. Not to mention surviving the 24 Paws of Love dogs. Boxer, the bully and Leia the submissive one. They made a good couple.
Princess Leia was a strange and unique cat. She filled my Siamese dreams in all fashions of the breed. She lived 19 years, 6 months and 22 days with us and I couldn't have asked more. ♥
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