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Health & Fitness

Goodbye Neo

Neo was an awesome cat. Writing about him helps make it seem like he's not quite gone. The pictures help, too.

Neo, you were one of the best cats I've ever known.  You looked like such a bruiser, with your broad shoulders, thick neck and strong legs.  The way you walked often reminded me of a bulldog.  Later on you seemed more like a bear, a small but gentle little black and white bear living in our house. Yet you were so sweet and loving, always ready to purr and cuddle up next to us for a nap.  You were the only cat I've ever known that liked to head butt humans (in the face) to say hello.  I really loved that about you.

I always tell the story as I found you, when really you found me.  I’d never heard a meow like yours until that morning when I’d gotten to work, parked my car and heard you from a few blocks away.  You were so loud, I couldn't believe you were only a kitten. 

You were hiding under the stairs of a two-story flat, alone and crying.  I rang the doorbell and the people who lived there said your whole litter had been abandoned and you were the last one left.  It was like I’d gone there specifically to find you and take you home, but you were so scared and wouldn't come out from under the house. 

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I went to the bodega on the corner and bought some food and perhaps unsurprisingly, that’s all it took.  You came out and gobbled down everything I had, which would remain your style of eating for all your days.  Then you let me pick you up and you melted into my arms and purred.  We went inside my office and everyone cooed over you as I called the vet and found a proper box for you to camp in.

On the way to the vet you meowed until you could get your head up & out of the box, then you were fine – calm and mellow.  You just needed to see what was going on.  I skritched your chin and you purred the whole time.  You looked so happy and contented.  I’m certain you were smiling at me.

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With you all cleaned up and checked out by the vet, it was time to take you home to a townhouse with carpeted stairs perfect for cat races with your soon-to-be older brother.  And a parrot, though he wouldn’t be racing up and down the stairs with you.  Your “brother” looked incredibly like he could be your litter mate and we were often asked if you were actual brothers.  You were in time, no doubt. 

On the way home I asked you what you wanted your name to be.  Since I’d found you in the Mission, I suggested all sorts of Mexi-themed monikers and you didn't make a peep.  When I suggested “Neo” you meowed and that was that.  “Neo” then became “Neo! Neo!” or “Neo Cat” and ultimately, “Neo the Bear.”  Or “Neo the Bear Bear.”  We seem to call all of you by double names, I don’t know why.

The parrot loved the little black & white fuzzball that took such an interest in him.  He learned your name in no time, calling you whenever you began howling through the house to find us.  He rarely says anything intelligible but he seems to love saying (or yelling) your name.

Initially, your brother wasn't as excited as we were, as you probably gathered when he hissed at you from outside the carrier.  But you were undeterred.  You fell in love with him at first sight and couldn't wait to play.  We turned you loose and you followed him everywhere. 

Despite his growls and hisses, he enjoyed the attention.  He put up a good front, but we’d see him running around with you looking like he was having the time of his life.  In just a couple of days he was curled up around you in the laundry hamper, giving you a bath.

Even in your later years, as you occasionally fought for Alpha Cat status, you still responded to your brother the very moment he walked into a room with a welcoming trill and an affectionate nose touch or face lick.  And even though some of your challenges for status were intense, you were always the Alpha Cat, from the first day you came home.

With your bold, bulldog-like swagger and your quiet but commanding presence, you took great care of us.  Every night you came and hollered at us when it was time to go to bed, then you’d go off on patrol, or whatever it was you did after you made sure we were tucked in.

When we brought your sister home from the adoption fair your brother hissed, but you sat quietly in the room with her and stood watch.  You kept her company but didn't challenge her.  Like you and your brother, soon after she arrived you and she were curled up together and spent many days snoozing in a pile.  She misses you – we can tell.  We all do.

Watching you go from the beautiful, strong bear you were to being bone thin with illness fighting to hang on was the definition of heartbreaking.   It’s hard to sit here and write this, feeling your absence.  You spent your last two weeks in my office, napping by the window as we hoped the chemo would work a miracle and give us a little more time with you.  I’m so sorry we couldn’t make you better and you had to go so soon.

Now you’re gone, physically, but we’ll never forget you.  We’ll always remember your snoring that would often become so loud we would have trouble hearing the television.  We’d mute the TV so we could listen to you.  It always made us smile.  We loved how you’d settle in for a nap and exhale with a big groan as if to say “Please shut UP, I’m trying to sleep.” 

The house is so quiet without you.  You always hated to be alone, waking up from your naps and calling for us, oftentimes walking through the house meowing with a toy in your mouth.  I have your favorite toy under my pillow now – the terrycloth wristband that you stole as soon as I got it out of the package.  We loved watching you hurl that thing up into the air, then catch it and scamper off. You were such a serious cat, it was a huge joy to watch you play. 

You had so much love to give, and you were so good to us.  We’ll always love you Neo and for now, we can only be comforted by knowing you’re no longer suffering and you now walk in beauty with all the other animals in the spirit world.  Go play, Neo.  We love you so much.

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