Run free, Tunabelly! Run pain free!

A good blog friend just left us.

The speed of his leaving shocked me. His recent photos and activity level description seem to be of a cat on the road to recovery. To hear that fluid filled his lungs so rapidly and took him away from his loving family is so sad and heart wrenching.

Run free Tunabelly! Run pain free!

Mesh

Fat Eric has passed

What sad news. My favorite English cat has gone to the Bridge on 18 Aug 2010.

I have always been a fan of Fat Eric. He seems to be such a nice big floffy fellow, always ready for a cuddle and a pat on the head. Well, at least he did not suffer much on his last leg.

How? How? How?

I was doing my usual stretching and warm down exercises at my void deck after my run when I heard a very loud wail.

I thought it sounded like a cat. But there was no other void deck cat except for Fluffy who is not very vocal and she was sleeping about 10m from me. Maybe it was a little kid wailing. We know how little kids sometimes sound like cats yowling.

And then it appeared. A skinny scruffy looking little cat. Trotting towards me. I thought it looked like Chang Chang. What was it doing downstairs? I thought I had made sure all of them were home when I closed the door an hour before.

I looked again. It was indeed a CC look-alike but a much smaller version.

It ran towards me and curled around my legs, circling me. Mini-CC from top of the head to tip of the tail but it has white socks and a bit of white chest hair.

She was yowling non-stop. She is young, approximately 7 to 8 months old. Her coat is fairly clean. She likes humans. Either she has run off from home or she is abandoned. And then I saw her teats. They were swollen. But she is not pregnant. So the only other logical explanation is that she had just given birth. No tipped ear. Worst fears come through. It is highly likely she is abandoned.

I stroked her. She liked it but kept yowling non stop. She started pacing and led me to another part of the void deck. Good. I was hoping she would lead me to her kittens. But no. There were no kittens around.

I rushed up and scoped up some food. She ate all hastily and stopped her yowling after that. She must be famished. After that, she took me onto a wild goose chase from void deck to the 2nd and 3rd floor. I thought she was going home. But no, she was just another curious kitten.

I kept her company before I finally left her at the void deck when she finally settled down. I know the uncle who comes around later will feed her again.

I was in a dilemma. I had so wanted to bring her home, give her a good bath and settle her in. She can be CC's little sister!

But I needed to seek the Wife's consent and she will not be home till tomorrow morning. She had said no to another cat many times already. I know her reasons and I agree with her too on those points. But little CC tugged at my heartstrings. She is so friendly. Not the prettiest cat in the world but I don't really care because I have looked past that many many years already (though not for the female human species yet. Haha...).

How now?

The cat who ruled my roost

I read this article on The Sunday Times, 21 Jun 09. It is an article about a cat's life, reprinted from the Los Angeles Times. I quite enjoyed reading it, the charmed life of this cat which had probably enriched the life of the author and his family. There is no doubt the cat was loved by the family and memories of it will forever be etched in the family's memories.

By Jerry Zezima

“Connecticut – No man who has a cat can ever claim to be king of his castle. No man who has a wife and children can ever make that claim, either, but that’s another story.

I found this out in 1989, when my wife, Sue, and I moved with our young daughters, Katie and Lauren, from an apartment to a condominium in Stamford, Connecticut.

The girls, who longed for a “real pet”, had grown tired of goldfish whose life expectancy was approximately as long as the Super Bowl half-time show.

They wanted something that could return their affection, that had some semblance of intelligence, that would respond to their every command. True, they already had me. Bu they wanted more; they wanted a cat.

So, on an overcast Saturday, we went to the Humane Society and saw lots of cats of every conceivable make and model. Asking not one child but two children, ages nine and seven, to pick out the pet of their dream borders on cruelty, not necessarily to the children, who would gladly devote their lives to such an endeavour, or to the cat, but most definitely to the parents.

Ultimately, the decision was in my hands. Or, more accurately, on my feet. That’s because one little kitten, a black-and-white cutie of almost unimaginable softness, climbed out of her box, scampered over to me and began to rub up against my size 11 sneakers. When I picked her up, she snuggled against my cotton shirt and purred contentedly.

It would be years before she showed me such affection again.

Of course, I wouldn’t have known that. But it was late, the girls were hopelessly confused and I was hooked, so I announced: “This is the one.”

Katie named her Ramona, after Ramona Quimby, the title character in a series of books by children’s author Beverly Cleary. It was a monumental misnomer: Ramona, the fictional eight-year-old girl, was charming, lively and smart; Ramona, the real-life eight-week-old cat, was grumpy, boring and stupid.

But the girls were happy. Sue and I were, too, because, for all her mental deficiencies, Ramona quickly learnt how to use the litter box. I like to think she followed my example because, of course, O already was house-broken.

Ramona’s cushy lifestyle as a pampered princess who rarely deigned to associate with commoners ended in 1995 with the arrival of the newest member of the family, a puppy named Lizzie.

Sensing competition, Ramona finally began warming up to us.

Her miraculous transformation into an affectionate sweetheart continued in 1998, when we moved to Long Island, New York, and got another cat, Kitty, who then had her own kitties, Bernice and Henry, all of whom ignored Ramona, who was only too happy to reciprocate and focus her attention on us.

Just before her Sweet 16th birthday party, Ramona began emitting a series of loud, strange, agonizing cries that sounded a lot like me when I get out of bed in the morning. Sue didn’t help matters when she shook her head sadly and said, “It’s her time.”

I rushed to Jefferson Animal Hospital with Ramona, who sat calmly as Dr Jeff Rose checked her teeth and, at the other end, took her temperature. Then he listened to her heart and began feeling her stomach. “Have you watched her when she uses the litter box?” he asked.

“I don’t make a habit of it,” I replied. “Why?”

“Because,” Dr Rose announced, “she’s constipated.”

“You mean I worried myself sick over this stupid animal, thinking she was at death’s door, and the only thing wrong with her is that she can’t have a bowel movement?” I asked incredulously.

“I’m afraid so,” said Dr Rose.

The bill: US$165.10. The prescription: a stool softener.

Our first “real pet” enjoyed good health for four more years, until about three weeks ago, just a few days before the end. She was two months shy of her 20th birthday.

For two decade, Ramona had us all wrapped around her little paw.

She lived on her own terms and was loved unconditionally.

I guess she was pretty smart after all.”

Thoughts after the cat show

Before this cat show, I had only been to 1 cat show at the Singapore Convention Centre many years ago. I saw cats stuck in cages for hours, mostly frightened and stressed by the number of people surrounding their cages, and also their proud owners beside them.

I remember there was this huge fat cat (a DSH weighing maybe 10kg or more) in that cat show which drew so much attention due to its girth. And its owner was so proud of the attention. Hey, Mr/Ms Cat Owner, do the cat a favour and reduce its diet so that it can slim down. I'm sure you don't want it to suffer illnesses resulting from obesity in the future (add on to my to-do list, make sure that chubby Kim Kim loses 450g from her 5.45kg frame within a year from now and maintain it at 5kg).

Anyway, back to the cat show. And the highlight of the whole show was actually my lunch at the make shift hawker centre opposite The Malay Village. Sinful deep fried chicken thigh (smashed by a mallet) with fragrant rice. I think it was called "Ayam cannot remember cannot remember" (this is purely to tempt/di xiao ksn). Well, the chicken was very good and very good it had to be because I queued 30 min for the chicken.

And this cat show was no different from the last I attended. Cats stuffed into small cages, frigthened and stressed, with their proud owners beside them. I did not realise that there are so many people keeping pedigree cats in Singapore. I am not against buying pedigree cats (my Bon Bon is supposedly pedigree BSH as well but adopted) but do they also have DSH at home? I am not sure about that but I only saw less than 5 DSH at the cat show. I remember these DSH being as beautiful as the pedigrees.

The cats are judged on I think, their look and bone structure based on the some cat fancier club guidelines. Why is there no judging based on say, ability to catch a mousie (hunting skill), smashing a lizard off the wall (test jumping ability), manja display(tripping a human by twirling itself between his/her legs when he/she is walking), loudest purring cat? I know there are dog agility contests held worldwide but why are there no cat ability contests?

Harsh Reality?

A forumer in another forum posted a question over the weekend asking if a kitten will leave scratch marks on her new laminated flooring as she (I assume so) is considering adopting one. I don't know what came over me but I spent the next half hour replying her (during office hours, haha).

Am I too harsh with my reply? and may have in the meanwhile, scared away a potential adopter who may have given a kitten a good home?

My main concern then was that the cat/kitten will be dumped when the novelty of having a cat dies off, the adopter did not research enough or the adopter did not go through the whole thought process of having to care for an animal. I do not want another cat/kitten to suffer the stress of being adopted and then dumped again in another year or so.

Mrs kxbc thinks my reply is too blunt though the content may be more or less correct. On hindsight, I think so too. Maybe I was really too harsh and direct. Maybe I was just being myself and wanted her to know the seriousness of having a pet.

The question posed by her:
"hihi all cat lovers.. i'm new to this forum and would like to know some things abt adopting a kitten..

first of all, if i do not have a car, is it still ok to adopt a cat? is taxi uncle ok with a cat in a cage cos sometimes we might need to bring him/her to the vet..

second, my house will be laminated flooring with normal classic doors for the bedroom.. will there be prominent scratch marks on these?"

I cut and paste my reply to her below:
"Nothing wrong having a pet cat without a car. Lots of us don't drive.

Done so many times taking public transport with a secured carrier. Bus drivers and taxi drivers have so far not made any noise except for some taxis which will not take pets, even in carriers. If you are booking a cab, remember to tell the operator that you have a cat in a carrier. Also remember never to put your cat + carrier in the boot, no matter what the taxi drivers says. The cat is in your care so would you put your charge in the boot? Take another cab and tell the driver he will not earn your money.

Pets are not allowed to be taken onto the MRT so take note.

When you have a cat, there are definitely going to be scratch marks here and there, on the parquet floor, on the sofa etc when the cat runs and makes a turning. My cats do not scratch the sofa but when they start playing on the sofa, their claws may unintentionally leave some marks on it. But it's fine by me. Sofas and floors can be replaced but not my cats.

And there is going to be cat fur around the house too even with daily grooming and some litter tracking here and there.

If you are one of those who want a spic and span house with gleaming new furniture and without scratches, pets such as dogs and cats will not be for you.

Cats may throw up their food every now and then if for example they eat too fast or if the food does not agree with them, esp if new food is introduced. Laminate, parquet, marble and granite flooring cannot withstanding wet patches for an extended period of time as they are porous. And if they throw up while you are not home, the vomit may already have sunk into the flooring by the time you are back home from work in the evening, leaving at best an irremovable stain or at worst, a popped up laminate.

It is true that cats make good pets and owning one or a few give immense joy. But there are a lot more things to consider before adoption eg:

1. is everyone in the household agreeable to having a cat?

2. will you not abandon the cat later on, esp when you get pregnant and are pressurised by family members to dump it?

3. do you have the extra cash to send the cat for annual vaccination, check ups (vet visits can be expensive especially when they reach old age)?

4. are you willing to mesh up your windows so that your cat will not jump out accidentally and fall to its death esp if you are living in high rise apts? Meshing up your windows will definitely spoil the look of your house unless you invest some money/thought into design and materials.

5. are you prepared to love and take care of the cat till it reaches old age?

6. do you have the time to play and interact with your cat for at least an hour every day?

7. are you willing to let your cat roam all over the house when you are not home? Keeping your cat in a cage is mistreatment.

8. cats are curious animals and they will explore every nook and cranny of your home and in doing so, they may smash some ornaments you place on shelves. Are you willing to reduce your various displays? Are you willing to forgive your cat if it accidentally breaks some precious item in your home?

9. are you prepared to live with your furniture accidentally scratched or scratched before you can fully train the cat to scratch at the appropriate places?

10. will you be the sole provider of food and love for the cat?

11. are you prepared to neuter/spay the cat when it reaches sexual maturity?

There are so many questions to be answered and these are not the only ones I have highlighted. I have not trying to scare you but you will have to consider the above and more, esp if you are a first time owner.

The advantages of having a pet cat outweigh the disadvantages. But can you live with the disadvantages? Best you speak to friends who have pet cats and chat with them first. Read up on cat onwership. There are lots of reference books in the library, especially Orchard Library (under Pets). You can also get some info from CWS http://www.catwelfare.org/ and see if you can speak to a volunteer.

I am not trying to scare you or anything but it seems that there are lots more things to consider before bringing a cat back home."

If you feel that my reply is too harsh, I will have to tone it down a little next time so as not to scare away potential adopters.

Angelic faces

I stumbled upon this flickr site. This person, whom I think is Singaporean, has some of the cutest photos of his cats, a very lazy Scottish Fold and a hyper active Muchkin. These 2 cats are very photogenic and really cooperate well with the camera.

I know some readers may have this thing about buying pure breeds rather than adopting a moggie. I have my views too. But let's put that aside for the moment and enjoy the antics of 2 cats, apparently very well taken care of and very loved by the family.

Enjoy!

(3 more working days before I fly. Yipee!!!!!)

Is my Engrish no gooded?

Misty is this adorable cat which had spent her kittenhood in the void deck with her sister and brother. The trio was generally wary of strangers except towards this Lady Feeder and us. LF would be feeding them almost daily and we would try to supplement if she was late or absent. When Misty’s sister and brother disappeared mysteriously last year, LF scooped up Misty and kept her as a house pet. That was really good news for Misty as she would now be free from cat haters and psycho nuts who would abuse defenseless animals.

Then there was this Saturday morning a couple of months later when the Wife spotted Misty wandering in the carpark again when she was staring out of our place. We rushed down, picked her up and promptly sent her back to LF’s place. When I advised LF that she should fence up her main gate and windows to prevent Misty from escaping, she replied that would impede the wind flowing into her home. We told her those meshes from DIY shops would help and hoped that she would do something about it.

And last week, we saw Misty sitting in the car park again. When we sent her back to LF’s home, we found the main gate and windows not meshed up again. Is my Engrish no gooded? Cannot understand what I am saying? LF, mesh up your main gate and windows please!!!!

I hope it did not suffer

I learnt from Dawn's blog that another kitten was brutally killed and carved up yesterday. It's sad to learn that there are bastards out there who would kill for fun. (Do not click the link if you cannot take gory pictures.)

And this is not the first case to have happened in Singapore this year. Although I am sure there were multiple abuse cases not reported, this one stood out. If I remember correctly, Hooi was jailed a measely 3 months out of a maximum of 12 months. And when he was out of prison, he tortured another cat so bad that it had to be put down immediately.

A fellow cat blogger adopted a kitten which was once abused by school kids this year. They poured a hot drink onto it. I do not know what punishment had been melted, but I am sure it is less painful than a hot drink poured on their naked flesh.

I would have to say that the majority of Singaporeans do not detest animals. Even if they may not like dogs/cats/hamsters/rabbits/name your animal here, they would not abuse them. And I am sure this applies to most countries. But it is the minority few who are causing such unnecessary pain to a defenseless animal, in the name of thrill and fun.

What is the Singapore legal system coming to? Do we have the laws to prosecute? As someone outside the legal fraternity, I think so. But are we bringing down the full force of these laws on the criminals? In my view, clearly not. Take the case of Hooi, the kitten abuser. 3 months out of a maximum 12-month sentence. Then with no supervision and a few months later, oops, he was caught abusing another kitten again. And who know how many he had already abused before he was arrested. This time round, I do not know how many less months he would be locked up again. Clearly, the law is sending out wrong signals to would-be animal abusers. If the abused had been a 2 year old toddler, do you think Hooi would have been let off so easily? Do you think there will be no uproar in this tiny country? Your guess is as good as mine.

Lots of people would argue that you cannot compare an animal to a child. Probably true. But I can also tell you that animals behave much better than most 2-legged homo sapiens. We need to melt the heaviest sentences, however inadequate they may be on their own, on these animal abusers. And we need those who have witnessed such crimes to testify as witnesses. To put these abusers locked up for a good period of time. And hopegfully with professional supervision and/or medical treatment, they will not abuse any animal or human again.

I eat meat though not a lot. But I am not a vegetarian. If pushed to the extreme, I will kill for food but will not for thrill and adventure. Does that make me an animal lover? Does that qualify me, an omnivore, to even despise these bastards who torture and kill for fun? I believe it is justified and that I can put up this post.

T.C.S.S #4 – Silent passing of another kitten

It was a sad afternoon for me today. I received news that another motherless neonatal kitten had succumbed despite its own desperate attempts to survive and the valiant efforts of a kind Samaritan and his spouse.

I was surfing the Clubsnap forum late Sunday night when I saw a plea for help. The kind souls, ie, David and his spouse, had rescued a 4-day old kitten after seeing another cat killed its sibling and the mother cat not in sight. With no experience in raising neonatal kittens, he had sent an online plea for help.

Deep in my heart, I knew the kitten would have a fierce battle ahead just to keep alive. Without its natural mother, its chances had dropped dramatically even with the best human intervention and support. Somehow, we just cannot replace the mother cat.

The little one was a survivor and showed signs of recovery after a trip to the vet. But those who had brought up motherless neonatal kittens would know that sometimes for no reason, they will just start to fade. And it started to fade today before it breathed its last at around 5pm today.

To tell you that I was not affected would be a lie. Although I do not know David or his wife or the fact that I have not seen the kitten physically, I felt very sad at its passing.

It reminded me of Duan Duan who had passed on at 2am under our watch. I remember my wife crying while holding its lifeless body, still warm and soon stiff from rigor mortis. She told me she had been singing to her and asking her to release herself from the pain while she took her last breath. I remember creating a small paper box to hold her body while her sibling, Chang Chang, was crying loudly in his box. I’m not sure if he knew his sister had made a move first and if he was already pinning for her. Maybe it was because she knew that we were greenhorns then and that 2 kittens would be too many for us to handle and had thus sacrificed her life to ensure that her little brother will survive with 100% attention from us.

I am not sure what the reason is but I choose to believe that she knew what she was doing and had made the right choice. Little boy Chang Chang had grown up well and I am sure she would like it that way too.

The Wife and I were discussing this issue yesterday and she said that if we find another neonatal kitten/s again, she will make sure that she will work harder and not let another one pass on under our watch.

Throughout this episode, it made me realize how important it is for us to be prepared. I was fumbling to locate useful online information I had made use of when we had Chang Chang and Duan Duan. So here are these useful links again from Jeri Dopp and here.

And to David and his wife, thank you for giving this kitten badly needed love, care and attention during its short life on Earth. The kitten thanks you.

Dear Mr HR Director

I refer to your advertisement seeking a companion and playmate to Kootoo Monster.

I am a 3 month old girl kitten measuring approximately 25cm from head to butt. I am always immaculately dressed in my charcoal brown jacket teamed with a white blouse, white gloves and knee high white boots. Together with my long full tail, I will be an attractive addition to your home.

I am not the friendliest kitten in the world now as I have to be wary of strangers. But I will not take long to warm up to you. A few soft words and I will be mewing softly back to you as I come to stroke your hand. I will gladly play tag with you and will also cuddle quietly right next to you when you just want some company.

I attach a few photos of myself and hope to seek an appropriate time to meet you.

Yours sincerely, Sweety Kitty

Look at my long full tail

I like to sit with my tail twirled around me for security. I may look a little dirty now but I will be at my most beautiful after a good bath and clean up.