He was only 2 weeks old 🥺
One Sunday morning a few years ago, Jo Palma took his family dog out for a walk. As he turned a corner, a tiny kitten suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Despite being just a 2-week-old stray, the kitten showed no fear. He confidently marched up to Palma and even leaped onto his dog.
The little feline tagged along for the rest of the walk, following Palma wherever he went. It quickly became clear that the kitten was completely alone—there were no parents or siblings in sight. Barely the size of Palma’s hand, the kitten seemed to be the runt of his litter.
“My dad instincts immediately kicked in,” Palma told The Dodo. “I knew if I didn’t do something, he wouldn’t survive.”
For Palma, adopting the kitten was an easy decision. He named him Leo. From the very first day, Leo seemed completely at ease with his new dad.
“He was so happy to be found,” Palma said. “He was curious about everything.”
At just two weeks old, Leo needed to be bottle-fed every few hours. Palma decided to feed him during his own mealtimes so they could eat together. This quickly became a routine, and soon, they were doing everything together. Before long, they were inseparable.
“I couldn’t leave him alone, so I had to take him everywhere,” Palma said.
Leo accompanied Palma in the car, to work, and even to the gym. He loved perching on Palma’s shoulders while he did bench presses and pull-ups.
“He would actually do some of the exercises with me,” Palma said.
As time passed, Leo grew from a tiny kitten into a full-grown cat. But one thing never changed—his deep bond with Palma.
Today, Leo is just as affectionate as he was the day he chose Palma as his family. They still do everything together, from hiking and beach outings to cozy cuddles at home. Leo has remained close with the dog he first met, too—though now, they’re nearly the same size.
Palma may have saved Leo’s life, but he insists Leo changed his as well. At the time, Palma was going through a difficult period, and Leo became a source of comfort and joy.
“When I needed someone the most, he was there for me,” Palma said. “And I was there for him.”