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Short but Sweet

In Loving Memory

Nermal Self-proclaimed "World's Cutest Kitten," He was a stray rescued from the highway by a coworker. My coworker brought Nermy and his brother and sister to work to find them homes. I took one look at him and couldn’t resist. I had wanted a gray kitten to call Nermal since I was a young child and watched a lot of Garfield on Saturday morning Cartoons. And, boy did my Nermy fit the profile. Nermy was such an attention hog and he loved to flaunt his cuteness at my other cat Sable. She didn’t love the Nerman Tator like I did/do. But he was also the most loveable and affectionate cat I have ever known.

Nermy was so tiny and underfed when I got him, that when I took him to the vet the first day he weighed so little (a mere 1.8 lbs) that they believed him only to be about 4.5 or 5 weeks old. One month later he had grown so much (probably because he had been starving in the wild and was now getting a proper amount or more of food) that they guessed his age, at about 4 months, this time by his teeth because he now weighed about 4 lbs.

Nermy was so sweet from beginning to end. When I took him home that first day, I had no carrier for him yet, so he sat in my lap. Well he was just so worn out from all the attention and playing in my cubicle that he went right into a sound sleep in my lap. It was the most precious thing ever.

And affectionate is an understatement where Nermy was concerned. He would wake me up in the morning with kisses. He put his paws on my face when he gave kisses. He would give hugs along with his kisses. He loved to give me kisses so much that he would climb up my shoulder if I was near enough and just kiss my face raw. He would sleep on my chest or head. He loved to be held. I have never met a more affectionate cat before or since Nermy was in my life. I miss him greatly!

Nermy was diagnosed with FIV (Feline Leukemia) at his first visit to the vet. He was most likely born with the disease. His two siblings, a brother Loki and a sister Shelby (which also happens to be my name, a funny and odd little quinky dink). Both of his siblings also suffered FIV and short lives. Unfortunately when his brother was diagnosed he was sent to the rainbow bridge right away. Loki's new parents didn't think they'd be able to handle loving him for a short time and then losing him.

I can’t fault them for this, now knowing that very pain myself. But, if I had to do all over again, I would make the same choice. Regardless, it was never a consideration for Nermy anyway. He had my heart the minute I laid eyes on him. So even though I knew he was going to have a very short life, I decided better a short and sweet life than none at all. Naturally, I wanted him to have the happiest life possible. So, Nermy was as spoiled as possible, with the exception of going outside. I very much wanted to let him have fun in the wild those last couple of weeks (even though I didn’t know it was his last couple of weeks, I just had a nagging to let him outside, but I didn’t).

Then, on a beautiful Saturday morning I woke up with Nermy lying on my chest just as sweet as could be. Unfortunately, this morning something was terribly wrong. He was breathing in very many short breaths. I fretted for a good part of the day before I finally decided I should call the vet. When I told them the situation they made an emergency appointment for an hour from when I called. I knew that didn’t mean good things. The vet did an x-ray and came in with the bad news. Nermy’s lungs had filled with fluid; a common result of advanced FIV, with no cure or treatment to be applied. I held Nermy in my arms for a long while and then I petted and held his sweet little paw as he drifted away. It’s one of the saddest things a person can experience. I didn’t stop crying until Monday when I had to go to work.

Nermy only lived to be 9 months old. This was much shorter than I had expected, I was thinking he’d enjoy a couple of years. So even though I knew he had a terminal illness his passing was very much unexpected especially since he appeared to be relatively healthy the day before his passing. But those short and quickly passing 9 months were filled with love. He was very loved by all who met him but especially by his mommy. He is ever so greatly missed.

On a weird little side note, Jasmine (another baby of mine) began to behave exactly like Nermy a bit right after he left the living. So it seemed to me that either he instructed her to do so because he knew he was leaving or he possessed Jasmine some. A little heartache easing fantasy I suppose.

Whatever the case may be, I miss Nermy so very much! I look for his likeness everywhere I see another kitty. But he visits me in dreams on occasion and I know he felt the love I had for him while he was living and even beyond the rainbow bridge.

Nermy Pote-&-Tator
Aug 2003 - May 2004