It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since my sweet Neko went to the Bridge. I finally got my act together and put together a tribute and video to honour her. Quite a few of you didn't get to know her, and I hope this gives you a glimpse into who my sweet girl was.
There were a ton of tears the first time I played it. I miss my girl so much. We both miss her. A month ago DH was filling in an application for a store card, and one of the security questions was “favourite pet”. Of course he answered” Neko”, even though she has not been our only fur kid. She taught us so much, especially me. More than I ever wanted to know about diabetes and high dose conditions, then arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, lymphoma… But also about the love between a bean and a cat. We developed such a close bond, through all our adventures.
Neko came to our house when she was 11 months old. She had been at the SPCA twice already, first time as a stray, second time when family had an allergic child. It was time she had a forever home, so she came home to us. We were looking for a lap cat and Neko delivered in spades. For those who don’t know, Neko means cat in Japanese, and there was a rock singer in town at the time called Neko Case.
In spite of her last 5 years with diabetes/acromegaly, I really want to remember the younger healthier Neko. She loved boxes and bags, and when asked, I always got paper bags to bring home new toys. Neko liked to greet me after my shower, lying on the bath mat, then licking my legs. She loved showing off her tummy and asked to have it rubbed.
She loved to chase brown moths and many summer evenings she’d be dancing and leaping on the lawn. I hated having to bring her in, but we had a no out after dark rule. She would “hide” under the ferns or under bushes, but I knew where to look. She enjoyed watching hummingbirds, and even caught a few. But gently, I would pick her up and she would let it go, and it would zoom off. She walked the top of our fence, but mostly stuck to our yard. Except when she would visit her girl cat pal next door.
As we near Christmas, I remember how much Neko loved the tree. She would sleep under the tree on the quilted tree skirt. I couldn’t leave presents with ribbon under there, or she’d eat the ribbon. We had to put the breakable ornaments out of her reach. I still remember one year when she was still fairly young. It was the 30th of December and I was on a phone call after midnight, trying to finish a contract due next day that was part of a multi million dollar deal for our company. On the phone were two lawyers, the president of another company, our mergers/acquisitions person and me as technical support. That night, around 2AM, Neko decided I needed to start paying attention to her instead. So of course she headed for the Christmas tree to start playing “bat the ornament”! Let’s just say I lost my “professional” voice.
Neko was a great snuggler. One of the few cats I’ve had that was OK with being held in my arms. When she was young, if I leaned down she would jump on my back for a ride. She was a clever girl. She quickly discovered the bookshelf in DH’s downstairs office that had a heat vent above it. She spent hours there with him in the winter. I couldn’t do hand sewing or quilting without a helping paw. Neko was also very empathetic. She knew when I was sad and needed a cuddle. She could tell, even from another room in the house. It’s been a hard year without her to comfort me.
For those who followed her adventures here, you learned how much she loved our solarium. Her outdoor time was limited after FD, but the solarium was still like being outside. She shared it with civie Theo, who adored her. The feeling was not mutual, but she tolerated him. He too is in the video as he shadowed her everywhere. Even to the Bridge less than 6 months later.
We went through a lot in the 5 years with FD, probably at least 5.5 years with acromegaly, as I learned later from symptoms. Neko learned to tolerate car travel and came with us on a few trips, including the big time adventures to Colorado State University. I learned a lot about caring for a cat, more so than I’ve ever had to do before. Neko was a great teacher.
But I couldn’t have done what I did without FDMB. A shout out to a few special members, who helped and encouraged me. @Marje and Gracie and @Sienne and Gabby (GA) were always there encouraging me to keep on increasing in spite of Neko being on higher doses than other cats here at the time. @julie & punkin (ga) was the only other one here at the time with an acrocat. Her support saved me as I kept wondering what was different about my cat and how could I “fix” her. Julie knew so much about acromegaly and encouraged me through our SRT journey. There were other members here who helped keep me sane in the early days, some times just dropping in to say hello, or provide a laugh, or teaching me that it was possible to have a life and care for an FD cat too. @Michelle and Mannie (GA) , @Anne & Zener GA (and Liz), Celia/Binksy, Serryn, @Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA). Neko got to meet a few peeps here, Anne and Liz, Julie, Mariko.
I hope you enjoy the pictures of my girl. A word about the music in this video – it’s What I Wouldn’t Do by Serena Ryder. Besides it being true that I would have and did everything I could for my girl, it was one of two songs on my play list on my way back to the hotel after dropping Neko off for SRT at CSU the second time. The first day at CSU for her CT scan she’d had a heart block during anesthesia – so there was a real risk that day. I was terrified and on my own. The second song I heard was by Neko Case, and I took that as my sign I would see her again the end of the day.
Neko's last post Miss you my love. Until we meet again.
There were a ton of tears the first time I played it. I miss my girl so much. We both miss her. A month ago DH was filling in an application for a store card, and one of the security questions was “favourite pet”. Of course he answered” Neko”, even though she has not been our only fur kid. She taught us so much, especially me. More than I ever wanted to know about diabetes and high dose conditions, then arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, lymphoma… But also about the love between a bean and a cat. We developed such a close bond, through all our adventures.
Neko came to our house when she was 11 months old. She had been at the SPCA twice already, first time as a stray, second time when family had an allergic child. It was time she had a forever home, so she came home to us. We were looking for a lap cat and Neko delivered in spades. For those who don’t know, Neko means cat in Japanese, and there was a rock singer in town at the time called Neko Case.
In spite of her last 5 years with diabetes/acromegaly, I really want to remember the younger healthier Neko. She loved boxes and bags, and when asked, I always got paper bags to bring home new toys. Neko liked to greet me after my shower, lying on the bath mat, then licking my legs. She loved showing off her tummy and asked to have it rubbed.
She loved to chase brown moths and many summer evenings she’d be dancing and leaping on the lawn. I hated having to bring her in, but we had a no out after dark rule. She would “hide” under the ferns or under bushes, but I knew where to look. She enjoyed watching hummingbirds, and even caught a few. But gently, I would pick her up and she would let it go, and it would zoom off. She walked the top of our fence, but mostly stuck to our yard. Except when she would visit her girl cat pal next door.
As we near Christmas, I remember how much Neko loved the tree. She would sleep under the tree on the quilted tree skirt. I couldn’t leave presents with ribbon under there, or she’d eat the ribbon. We had to put the breakable ornaments out of her reach. I still remember one year when she was still fairly young. It was the 30th of December and I was on a phone call after midnight, trying to finish a contract due next day that was part of a multi million dollar deal for our company. On the phone were two lawyers, the president of another company, our mergers/acquisitions person and me as technical support. That night, around 2AM, Neko decided I needed to start paying attention to her instead. So of course she headed for the Christmas tree to start playing “bat the ornament”! Let’s just say I lost my “professional” voice.
Neko was a great snuggler. One of the few cats I’ve had that was OK with being held in my arms. When she was young, if I leaned down she would jump on my back for a ride. She was a clever girl. She quickly discovered the bookshelf in DH’s downstairs office that had a heat vent above it. She spent hours there with him in the winter. I couldn’t do hand sewing or quilting without a helping paw. Neko was also very empathetic. She knew when I was sad and needed a cuddle. She could tell, even from another room in the house. It’s been a hard year without her to comfort me.
For those who followed her adventures here, you learned how much she loved our solarium. Her outdoor time was limited after FD, but the solarium was still like being outside. She shared it with civie Theo, who adored her. The feeling was not mutual, but she tolerated him. He too is in the video as he shadowed her everywhere. Even to the Bridge less than 6 months later.
We went through a lot in the 5 years with FD, probably at least 5.5 years with acromegaly, as I learned later from symptoms. Neko learned to tolerate car travel and came with us on a few trips, including the big time adventures to Colorado State University. I learned a lot about caring for a cat, more so than I’ve ever had to do before. Neko was a great teacher.
But I couldn’t have done what I did without FDMB. A shout out to a few special members, who helped and encouraged me. @Marje and Gracie and @Sienne and Gabby (GA) were always there encouraging me to keep on increasing in spite of Neko being on higher doses than other cats here at the time. @julie & punkin (ga) was the only other one here at the time with an acrocat. Her support saved me as I kept wondering what was different about my cat and how could I “fix” her. Julie knew so much about acromegaly and encouraged me through our SRT journey. There were other members here who helped keep me sane in the early days, some times just dropping in to say hello, or provide a laugh, or teaching me that it was possible to have a life and care for an FD cat too. @Michelle and Mannie (GA) , @Anne & Zener GA (and Liz), Celia/Binksy, Serryn, @Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA). Neko got to meet a few peeps here, Anne and Liz, Julie, Mariko.
I hope you enjoy the pictures of my girl. A word about the music in this video – it’s What I Wouldn’t Do by Serena Ryder. Besides it being true that I would have and did everything I could for my girl, it was one of two songs on my play list on my way back to the hotel after dropping Neko off for SRT at CSU the second time. The first day at CSU for her CT scan she’d had a heart block during anesthesia – so there was a real risk that day. I was terrified and on my own. The second song I heard was by Neko Case, and I took that as my sign I would see her again the end of the day.
Neko's last post Miss you my love. Until we meet again.
,I'm glad you shared her younger years with us. I wish I could smoosh that fluffy belly of hers. 
. 
)
