Neko: From Shy Kitten to My Grumpy Cat

When I first met him, he was a shy little feline in a chicken shop, hiding behind shelves and peeking out with cautious eyes. His other siblings got adopted. He was alone with a brood of chickens in the shop. The shop owner made an interesting deal with me: "If you can catch him, you can keep him." That deal marked the start of our friendship. Thus, he was named Neko.

My Very First Cat Hunt

It wasn’t easy catching him, and I’ll never forget that fateful afternoon. He darted around the shop like a ghost. He almost got flattened by a car. I fell over several times just to get that one-month-old kitten in my hands. When I finally caught him, the chicken shop owner gave me a polythene bag to take him home. I still remember the disgusted look on my mother's face when she first saw him.

Him Adjusting

Neko was shy for a few hours after coming to our house. He was seeking corners and refusing to be touched. He wasn't even making any sound. He refused to eat and curled up in a small cardboard box that we had in the corner of a room. Me and my sister didn't know what to do with a kitten, so we were worried. We force-fed him the first time. He then went to a deep sleep.
He was slowly opening up to us after he woke up. He still seeked corners and kept his silence, but he became a little less cautious. We kept force feeding him. After three days, he started to crawl up on my bed and curl up beside me whenever he was sleepy. But eventually he became my sleeping partner. Even my parents started to love him after a few days. 

Building a Routine Together

Cats are pretty punctual when it comes to food. In the morning, he’s always the first to wake me up. He would meow until I gave him breakfast. No alarm clock is needed when you have a cat like Neko. He would always wake up at 5:30 and start screaming for food. One of the most interesting parts of taking care of Neko is grooming him. Although he’s capable of cleaning himself, he enjoys the attention and care I give him during brushing sessions. The hardest part is cutting his nail. Making him take a bath is a little less harder than cutting his nails, but he sleeps well when he bathes. Taking care of a cat sounds like a hassle, but I love spending time with the far ball. In fact, it’s something I look forward to every day. I forgot how life was without him.

The Journey From Shyness to Fondness

Looking back, I’m amazed at how much Neko has changed since that first day in the shop. From a timid kitten, he became a nasty-tempered cat. We scratch each other several times a day. I wonder how life would be like if he went missing from my life. Somehow the majority of my free time is spent with Neko. I still think I don't spend enough time with him. In the end, Neko has taught me a lot about patience, cats, and the simple joys of having a nasty pet. I’ll always cherish our journey from that shop to the happy life we share now.