SOLVED. Children’s novel about orphaned boy, curse and snow leopard

[Sarah]

I’m looking for a book I borrowed from the library in audiobook form around 2007–2009 when I was 8–10. I’m in Australia but I don’t think the book was Australian. The man reading the audiobook was British and had a very warm, rich voice. The book was about an orphaned boy living with his older brother. The boy’s name had two syllables and is on the tip of my tongue. I think he was cursed by a seer and might have been blind? He hung out a lot at a bakery and I distinctly remember the male baker brushing milk on something. They lived in a village that always struck me as being in a country in Eastern Europe or Central Asia, but I’m pretty sure the country wasn’t named in the book. There was a big cat wandering around the town and I think the signs of it might have only been visible/noticeable to the boy. The boy leaves to try to find the big cat and his brother looks for him. In my mind the big cat was a snow leopard but I’m not sure if this was specified in the book.

[Sarah]

Remembered the boy’s name! It’s Luka/Luca. Still can’t find the book, though.

[Sarah]

Found it! Cloud Cat by Caroline Pitcher.

[Rainbowheart]

Glad you found it!

Cloud Cat for the link.