Have realised that although ive talked about him, posted occasional pics and asked for help on his tum, ive never properly introduced Neko
Neko was brought to me a year ago today as my next foster. Hed been found by a dog, in the rain, and as the owner went to move her dog from the soaked, limp pile of fur that she thought to be dead, neko managed to show her her was still with us and thankfully this wonderful woman took neko home. as is so often the case now, the big rescues wouldnt take him and eventually she rang AARU who took him t their vet. He was very thin,distinct head tilt - thought possibly poisoned or hit by car and with severe diarrhea.
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Hed been here about 10 minutes before i told my coordinator hed probably be staying. he had such a beautiful temperment and it felt like we bonded straight away. ive had very sick fosters before and not felt so protective of them
over the next few weeks we discovered a curved spine, blood test for liver/kidney function all came back ok, head tilt is still present when hes very excited but much improved and the vets opionin is that hes the product of inbreeding and is brain damaged to some extent.
His stomach problems where eventually found to be caused by a parasite called tritrichonomas foetus which is still relatively unknown. were very lucky that the locum vet was still studying and came across it. this was diagnosed just prior to nekos neuter op- Neko had a cryptorchid testicle (not dropped) and the vets had thought that while they were looking for it it would be a good opportunity to examine his digestive system for physical abnormalities. there was a very real fear, as he failed to respond to treatment, that his problem would be incurable or caused by inbreeding and more serious than indicated
Thankfully he responded very well to the tritrichonomas foetus treatment and was pronounced able to be adopted at christmas
it was a horrible wait, desperate to adopt him as id been form day one and terrified that someone would take my boy away
Hes always got on well with sparecat. hes obviously no threat to her leadership and properly submissive so shes taken him on. he washes her ears and follows her about copying what shes done/doing and sleeping where shes moved from. i think it really help him develop and adapt.
christmas sharing treats together
sleeping in sparecats christmas present opps
Neko loooooves to play fetch - this is one of the fav fetch toys
but these are the BEST toys ever!- i get brought at least one every night while i sleep
I love how hes so trusting and still sleeps like a kitten
First time in the garden
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what pond?
So food obsessed he insisits on sleeping in a bozita box thats too small for him\
A year on, hes huge, still bony around his spine but the vet thinks it more to do with how his spine is than his weight and it may put strain on his spine if he gets overweight so its something to watch. that said, he eats a carton and a half of bozita a day
and still has a very sensitive stomach so its taken months to get him gradually used to the chicken bozita after he started to refuse the sensitive food he had
he loves dry food and can locate it anywhere but its too much for his tum so more than a kibble or 2 occasionally and weve got a mess
Hes still not exactly litter trained- mostly but with some specific issues despite having an underbed storage box as a litter tray now but its definitely improving as time goes on
Spare cat seems to have really bonded with neko, she stays with him if hes outside in the garden and the oftern sleep inches apart- ive even one seen sparecat asleep with her head on nekos front paws!
Neko and lucifer tolerated each other initially.then when luey got a strep virus, neko played annoying kid brother and would try to push him over so things were a little difficult for a while as luey retreated to safe places. Hes now recovered and has asserted his position with neko and theyre gradually getting closer.
Neko is still weak in his back legs. he may never be able to jump like other cats but were gradually building up those muscles by playing that encourages him to take his weight entirely on the back to catch/reach. this means that theres plenty of places luey can go that neko cant but hes sleeping more low down and trusting neko
Neko still has the same happy, trusting loving temperment he had, hes so sweet and loves meeting people- he even loves the vet and rolls about on the table for tummy rubs.and t=it is a lovely tummy to rub
i shudder to think of how different it could have been had it not been for the kindness and perseverence of the lady that found him and i will always be grateful to AARU for everything that they do and for not giving up.
