Cats & Rainbows

Last Tuesday my mom's cat, Neko, died. We got that cat while I was still living at home, my sister and I had to beg and plead to get him. At the time, my mom hated cats. She wanted nothing to do with them. She would jokingly say "I love cats...dead ones". (Be careful what you wish for, huh?). But eventually she agreed to let us bring this cat home. (we were older by then and had powers of persuasion. lol) It was actually a kitten from Joe's cat at his parents' house. She made us promise that "the last one out takes the cat". Anyway, over the next couple years my mom fell completely in love with Neko. We all did. He was so funny and cute and loving. My sister moved out and got married, I moved out and got married, and by then she was saying "the cat stays with me". My dad moved out and got married (long story). Through all of that she had Neko by her side. I'm sure that he was a huge factor in her getting through the divorce. He has been her buddy, her "child", her best friend, and her roommate for so many years now. But recently he was getting very sick, not eating, not drinking, not going to the litter box, and had fluid building up in his belly. They drained a liter of fluid, and it was back a few days later. He was diagnosed with FIP and the vet strongly encouraged my mom to have Neko put to sleep. She struggled with that decision, as she didn't want to "kill" him, but didn't want him in pain either. And the vet said he would die soon on his own anyway. So, after many tears she went ahead and followed the vet's advice. That was last Tuesday. I am somewhat sad about him being dead, but I am much more sad knowing how much she loved him and misses him and all the ways it affects my mom. I think to her, this is like losing a child. Goodbye Neko, we will miss you.

On a happier note, I went with her to the Humane Society on Sunday, and she picked out two new kittens. They won't replace Neko, but hopefully they will help fill the void in some ways.

While I was there, I asked about the other 2 kittens that we are supposed to be getting (see earlier post for that story) and the lady said they are doing fine, but still not big enough to neuter yet, so we will have to wait awhile longer to bring them home. The boys are sure anxious to see them.

One last tidbit to share...this morning when I pulled into the parking lot at work, there was a huge, beautiful double rainbow in the sky- it went a full arch. I could only get a small fraction of it in the photo, but it went all the way across the sky. The photo doesn't even come close to doing it justice (it was still kinda dark outside too), but thought I'd share anyway...