Meow?

“Mum, can we have a pet dog? No? What about a cat?”

Those questions brings back memories of my childhood, when pets was limited and confined to finned and gilled creatures. There was just no place for 2 rambunctious children and a four legged bundle of fur or two hence Mum allowed us to transform a few of her transparent plastic biscuit containers (that came free with biscuit purchase) into little fish tanks for our little gilled friends.

Only recently did I notice that I am suddenly starting to ‘save’ little four legged furballs abandoned by the roadside. Note that Mum is not too happy with me bringing back kittens or puppies since the rule of “no dogs/cats” at home still stands. Decided to persuade Mum with my business skills, “selling” her the easiest and age-old solution to the rat problem plaguing the front porch. All we have to do is keep a kitty at home and we’ll be rat-free!

I equally love cats and dogs, however I have to give credit to the cat for being a ‘clean freak’ by nature. Cleaning up is part of their daily routine. However, got to admit that dogs make excellent guards and loyal companions as opposed to the cat’s aloof nature.

The first kitty that I brought home was a light orange female kitten. Named her “Teh Ping” which is Hokkien for Iced Milk Tea (the colour of her fur). Found her in the warehouse in the company I previously worked with, she was a sociable little thing, casually jumping into the car when I opened the door. Driving her home was a challenge as she was exploring all over the interior of the car, inspecting every nook and cranny. Long story short, Mum was shocked I brought home a kitty, but she bought my idea and we kept her. She was a very verbal kitty indeed with lots of meows when we talk to her, as though she understood and was replying us in her kitty language.

 

Sad to say after 2 days, she went missing. She’s very much the wanderer and we think she might have wandered out too far and did not know how to return home. She was never to be seen since.

I believe Teh Ping’s presence in our lives was not a coincidence but more of a preparation for the ‘heavier’ task ahead of us. A stray cat gave birth to 4 kittens in the church compound and somehow there was no one interested in adopting the little ones. Mum saw that all 4 of them were super cute, hence when they were old enough to be separated from their mom, Mum drove them home in her car.

Fluffy (male), Dusty (male), Spots (male) and Shadow (female). The 4 musketeers, very hostile in the beginning with lots of hisses and claw swipes but of course their handler didn’t mind the faint scratches and somehow managed to tame them. They were the cutest bundles of joy ever. Having each other for company, the 4 of them kept Mum, Dad and I pretty busy with their clumsy antics and curiosity. I was particularly attached to Shadow as she was the smallest of the 4. Also the smallest eater, she sometimes eats so little that her brothers will help her finish her food (all cats get equal servings).

We could not keep all of them, and Spots and Shadow was adopted by a grocery shop owner in another part of town. The day we part with the 2 of them was a sad day indeed, and on the day the 2 left our home, the other 2 seemed lost without their siblings.

Dusty and Fluffy have come a long way from being scrawny kittens to handsome adult cats (with husky meows).

 

This blog entry is a tribute to Spots and Shadow. Just got news two weeks ago from Mum that Spots and Shadow didn’t grow up past their kitten years to become big and strong and handsome like Dusty and Fluffy. One was involved in a motor accident, and another was beaten up for stealing food, both of them died of their injuries.

Run free Spots and Shadow. May you both be happy playing at the Rainbow Bridge together with the many other kitties who went before you both.