TRIBUTE TO OUR ANGEL INKA

A Tribute by Cloon's Human

Inka was my 2nd cat.  I found her through an ad posted in a 7-Eleven.  She was a stray kitten.  The night I met her and held her in my arms, I fell instantly in love with her sweet, gentle, loving nature.  I will always remember that moment and that memory, it stands out so clearly and joins only a few others as one of my most cherished moments in time.  Inka was my kindred spirit, my soul kitty or heart kitty, and my little girl.  

     

I was very unprepared for her loss as I had never envisioned her passing at the young age of 10 and I never saw the next 10 years of my future without her. 

Inka slept beside me every night for 10 years and loved the sound of my voice.  Whenever I would talk aloud, she would come out from wherever she was and come right beside me, listen intently, purr and look at me with her soulful eyes.  She was a Zen kitty, she loved peace and quiet and Zen.  

   

She loved watching birdies, having the sun on her fur and lying in the breeze of an open window.  She LOVED tuna.

Inka and Clooney were the best of friends.  She loved to groom him.  They slept together and played together many times every day.  In the three weeks before Inka passed away, Clooney could be found lying right beside her wherever she was hiding.  I witnessed him crawling into the small blue "Prince" bed (that Neytiri now sleeps in) and squeezing himself right up alongside Inka even though there wasn't room for him.  When Inka passed on, a piece of Clooney's heart went with her...I know that he has had as much of a grief experience as I have had.   

Back in January of this year, Ann from Zoolatry had created these special pictures of "Angel Inka".  They mean a lot to me.  

Inka was an expert insect catcher.  She loved bugs especially moths.  The only insect she left alone and just observed was the Ladybug.  After Inka passed away, I witnessed Ladybugs in unusual places and circumstances.  I thought if something was to be Inka's messenger, a Ladybug would indeed be fitting as both Inka and I have had a special fondness for them... 

 Today is a hard day for me...even 2 years later.  As cancer had overtaken her, I said goodbye to my beloved Inka at 10:56 AM on October 14, 2009.

4 months after Inka passed, I travelled through Australia and wrote these words above in the sand at Coffs Harbour.  Australia was a very special trip for me as I had done lots of personal reflection.  On a special day when I was in Australia (March 5, 2010) close to Inka's original birth date, Neytiri was born...



"Your eyes will speak to mine, and I will know.

Unconditional love has a condition after all,

I must be willing to let you go, when you speak to me

I must be willing to help you go, if you cannot go alone.

And I must accept my pain so you can be free of yours.

Loving you has been the greatest gift of all."

(Excerpt from Karla M. Bertram)