Last week, Wuan went to the market and came back with more than groceries and breakfast. She brought a stinky and dirty ginger-coloured kitten back as well. She gave him a thorough bath after which he looked adorable with his fur clean and smelling nice. The intention was to clean him up, feed him and put him up for adoption.

After being with us for one week, we decided to keep him instead. Three felines is about as many as we can manage at the moment. Fei Por had not taken a liking to him. They both would hiss and take swipes at each other whenever Wuan brought them close together. That was the least of our concern. Fei Por stays outside. We did not want him running around outside anyway and would be keeping him indoors.

Ginger kitten that Wuan rescued from Pandan Perdana bus stop near the wet market.
Photo by Wuan.

The real test was whether Cheeky would accept him. They both would have to share the same room and same space indoors. I was skeptical. Cheeky was aggressive whenever other cats came into the compound. He would look out from the grille door and growl. The fur on his tail would become puffed. Wuan and I would not want to anywhere close to him during those times.

There were a few anxious moments after Wuan let the kitten into the house. Cheeky approached him cautiously and both stood frozen in close proximity, sizing each other up. True to his fashion, the kitten took a swipe at Cheeky. My heart skipped a beat. I was sure Cheeky would retaliate. It was not a pretty sight the last time Cheeky jumped on me and sank his fangs into my elbow.

Cute ginger kitten.
Photo by Wuan.

Cheeky took a few steps back and scooted off. What happened next surprised us. The kitten crouched behind a stack of old newspaper. Cheeky hid behind the coffee table. They then approached stealthily, pounced on each other and then ran away helter skelter in the opposite direction. This they repeated countless times. They were having fun! We finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing them warming up to each other so playfully.

We have yet to give him a name. That responsibility falls on Wuan again as she was the one who rescued the kitten. As for me, he has been keeping me occupied. He likes to climb onto my lap. I could not do much with him clambering all over and had to keep pushing him off. He would jump right back on again. I hope he outgrows this antic soon. My thights are now full of fine scars from him clawing his way up.

Cheeky the cat checking out the Christmas tree.
Photo by Wuan.

Wuan put up the fibre optic Christmas tree beside the bay window a few days ago. She had bought it from a pasar malam in Ipoh many years back. Over several days, she dressed it up with baubles and other ornaments. The illumination from the fibre optic was rather dim. It was not striking even with all the living room lights turned off.

Yesterday, she came back with a string of multi-coloured fairy lights. That atmosphere instantly warmed up when she turn them on, a stark reminder that Christmas is near. Cheeky, the forever curious feline, was at first fascinated by the blinking lights. He stared from the floor for a long time. When he could no longer contain his curiosity, he climbed onto the bay window and then perched precariously on the sofa to sniff at the tree.

Cheeky checking out something from his new cage in the garden.

Cheeky has a free run inside the house but the farthest he has ever ventured outside was the garden. Even then, Wuan kept a close eye on him. We did not want him to go beyond the compound and traipse all over the neighbourhood and get injured, or worse, get hit by a car. This fear stemmed from our previous experience with Fei Por’s three kittens.

Cheeky posing for the camera in his new cage.

When he was younger, Wuan would put him in a harness and leash, and let him explore the garden. He would sniff and move cautiously among the grass, chew on a few blades at a time and was generally fascinated by the new sights, scents and sounds outside. As he grew bigger, he refused to let Wuan wear the harness on him. He has not gone out since.

Cheeky and Fei Por chewing grass.

Cheeky has not shown any urge to go out either. But we want him to get some sunshine and eat some grass every now and then. With that in mind, we got him a cage last week. It is only for confining him when he is in the garden. He seemed to enjoy being out again and happily chewed grass that poked up from under the cage.