Ikkyu

Virginia hails from the blog *The Poupounette Gang all the way over in France.  Yet even from so far away, Virginia has managed to send countless packages, make donations, and buy bricks.   As I try to make a small difference here in my tiny little corner of the world, Virginia helps me from across the ocean.  Today’s brick honors her Ikkyu.  Here is his story, in Virginia’s words.


I had wanted a pet all my life and had always been particularly fond of cats. All through my childhood, I kept asking my parents for one and the answer was always no. Their excuse was that we travelled too much and it would be too complicated. After I graduated from university, I moved to Japan and lived there for many years. I worked in the financial services industry, a job with lots of money and absolutely no soul, and eventually became depressed and started seeing a counsellor. She had an Abyssinian cat called Simba. As we talked, it became clear that the need to share my life with an animal was still very great. I had a recurring dream of climbing up a rickety tower, into a room that had nothing in it but a large wooden chest with an orange cat sitting on it. The counsellor made it clear to me that I needed to (A) leave my job and (B) get a kitten! And I did. Her cat had kittens and she picked IKKYU for me. He came to live with me when he was 7 weeks old. I named him IKKYU, after a very famous Japanese Zen Buddhist monk who was known for his wisdom and also his sense of mischief and humour.

A young Ikkyu

He was a wonderful cat and sweet companion but he only loved me. There were a couple of other people, one of them being my Mother, whom he tolerated but that was about it. Nobody else could even pet him! But with me, he was sweet and gentle and playful and good and we shared 15 wonderful years together. We lived on three continents (Asia, North America and Europe) and he was quite used to travelling by plane, in the cabin of course! He was never sick until he developed renal problems and diabetes at the end of his life.

Flying business class

 

He was very particular about what he ate, having gotten used to the high quality of premium Japanese pet food, which is mostly fish-based. So even after we left Japan, I used to import his favourite canned food for him, first to Chicago and then to France. He was also extremely fond of smoked salmon!

Ikkyu started me on the road to sharing my life with animals. Whilst he was still alive, there was no way I could have another pet as he was so exclusive. But now, I have four cats, all Abyssinians, a dog and two horses! Life is good and I will always be grateful to Ikkyu for showing me I had been right all along!

age 7

 

 

age 11

 

 

Virginia ~ THANK YOU.

Comments

[Jan (Milo and Alfie's mom)]

Virginia is a dear blogging friend and it's wonderful to read this story and hear she dedicated a brick to beloved Ikkyu. Thank you Virginia. xx

[Random Felines]

We love that crew and what a sweet story. We are very glad that she got Ikkyu to share her life. :)

[candace nagle]

What a lovely story. For many of us living with and loving other creatures is essential for a happy heart. Ikkyu was a beautiful cat...very handsome!

[Malarabid]

And Ikkyu was a very lucky cat to have someone wonderful as Virginia. I felt very privileged to meet him one summer and even more privileged that he ate cheese out of my hand. What a cat!

[PUnapippuri]

Way to go Ikkyu. We wish we had known you, but love following those who have come after on the Poupounette blog. They have big paws to fill.

[Kat & the Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde]

How beautiful!! My late father didn't care for cats so after my sweet black kitten escaped out the door when I was three I only had Lady, an English Setter/Pointer mix. That is, until my mother and I moved to Nashville to live with my grandparents. When my mother married my dad they decided to adopt one of the kittens from the litter my grandmother's cats was about to have. Lo and behold she only had two! So we adopted them both. Since then I had cats in my life with the only exception being college and my first marriage. (That should have clued me in!) Ikkyu sounds like a wonderful companion and what a world traveler!!

[Ginny & The F'ur Family]

Ikkyu was so beautiful and sleek and his color was a perfect tawney orange brown. I love that breed and I think by the pictures he was a large long boy with a very protective and loyal to his mistress, personality. He looks like the co-PILOT in the picture of him in the plane. Cats have such distintive personalities. Even from the same litter they all act a little different. I feel the grief in your words even after all this time. love lives forever. He is looking down from some where out there in the universe called Cat haven. I will say a prayer for the soul of Ikkya. Some time show us the pictures of your other pets and horses. Virginia we share the same name. I had to grow into my name - at Three it was so hard to spell and later I learned from my first grade teacher that I had a state named after me... you are such a good friend of the furry ones, and are so nice to help with Chrystals rescue.. We here at the Fur family say - "Thank you for your story of your Boy Ikkya,' and for the goodies you send to Chrystals rescue which means so much to us all here in blog land. Love the beautiful brick to honor Ikkya. We will always remember him from your story. Ginny & The Fur Fmily

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Beautiful! Beautiful cat, beautiful story! Along with everyone else, I also thank you for helping Chrystal with her rescue! Even from across the ocean!

Chrystal needs more help, she needs help finding homes for those cat house cats as well as the kittens who haven't made it into the cathouse yet. Just think, if you help someone adopt one of these cats, you could be helping them have a story like Virginia's! Isn't that worth asking everyone to check out this blog and the kitties?

Please don't forget to buy the book if you havent! And spread the word about that too. Makes a great gift! And there's a donate button if you can!

[Team Tabby]

Thanks, Virginia, for sharing this story of Ikkyu, a very remarkable cat and how he came into your life at just the right time!

[Oui Oui]

What a sweet story and remarkable cat! You are lucky to share your life with so many loving souls.