Neko is a cross-platform open-source animated cursor-chasing cat screenmate application.
Neko (猫, ねこ) is the Japanese word for cat.
Neko was originally written for the NEC PC-9801. It was later ported as a desk accessory to the Macintosh in 1989 by Kenji Gotoh, followed by an X version by Masayuki Koba.
In the game, a sprite would follow the mouse pointer around. In the System 7 version, the pointer could be modified to various cat toys such as a mouse, fish, or bird. When Neko caught up with the pointer, it would stare at the screen for a few seconds, scratch an itch on its body, yawn, and fall asleep until the pointer was disturbed. In windowed mode, Neko would stop at window boundaries and scratch at the edge of the window.
The Neko cat has been used as a sprite in many other programs.
In 1995, a shareware game for the Macintosh called Kitten Shaver had used sprites that looked similar to Neko. The object of the game was cruel but humorous as the player would have to shave the cats, with various layers of fur, as they ran across the screen within a limited time. The game was a parody of a game called Bunny Killer. Kitten Shaver was such a success, that a sequel called Kitten Shaver 2: Kitty's Revenge was released in 1997.
Neko has been ported to many other systems.
There is also a Neko screensaver for NEXTSTEP.
Neko was available on Acorn Computers' RISC OS
A port was made, Ameko in 1997 for the Amiga Computer and attributed to Neko by its author, Carl Revell.
It has been ported to Mac OS X. The screensaver Neko.saver waited 5 years to move from version .91a to version .92, a universal binary. There's also a free-standing application for OS X 10.4 and up.
A port was made for Microsoft Windows 3.1.
A port was made for Windows 95, ported by David Harvey from the X source.
Ports have been made for the x64 version of Windows, along with the Dec Alpha & MIPS versions of Windows NT.
A BeOS version was written from scratch by Greg Weston (later author of the Mac OS X app) as a demonstration of Be's "replicants" technology. An enhanced version of this program by John Yanarella is available.
IBM OS/2 version 2.0 shipped with Neko as an entertainment program.
A port of Neko is used as a demo program for the XCB library.
Oneko, a port based on xneko, for Linux and BSD systems.
A port, named NekoCat, was made by Laurent Duveau for Palm OS.
A Neko character is available for the linux toy AMOR (Amusing Misuse Of Resources).
A port named WebNeko is available for the iPhone.
There is an Xneko live wallpaper for Android called Xnekodroid.
Another Android port is called ANeko and runs on top of any applications, not just wallpaper.
An Opera widget is available.
A port was made for Windows Mobile 6.5, ported by Jayson Ragasa.
There are some ports of Neko by fans to the Arduino micro controller boards.
A Java Swing port is available.
In the 2000s (decade), after Todd Goldman admitted to committing plagiarism by copying a webcomic panel into a painting and labeling the painting as his work, other bloggers accused Goldman of copying Neko and using it as "Goodbye Kitty." Goldman denies these allegations.
