The Digital Awakening » kitten

Remembering Patches

Peter Tan — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:50:04 +0000

Patches the kitten on my lap.

There are people and pets that stay in my memory long after they are no longer here. They occupy a special place in the deepest recesses of my mind because they have enriched my life in more ways than one. Patches was one such character. Although he has left us for more than two years already, we still think fondly of him. He was such a lovely kitten and an adorable companion.

An idle mind may not necessarily be the devil’s workshop. The relaxing breather from using my grey matter today has allowed me to reminisce about the time that I had with Patches. These recollections of him brought back some bitter sweet memories, more sweet than bitter. We were truly blessed with the opportunity to be part of his brief life and all the unconditional love that he showered on us. Rest in peace, Patches. You are gone but not forgotten.

Abandoned Kitten From Pandan Perdana Market

Peter Tan — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:24:53 +0000

Kitten cuddling up next to Fei Por.
Photo by Wuan.

Wuan rescued a kitten from the Pandan Perdana market last Sunday. It was mewing incessantly near a garbage bin. It was scrawny, scruffy and looked so fragile. As we had to go out, we left her with Fei Por in the compound. Unfortunately, Fei Por was not interested in mothering over the kitten as she did with Cheeky. When we came back in the evening, the kitten was nowhere in sight. We searched around the neighbourhood for a couple of hours without success.

Close up shot of kitten.
Photo by Wuan.

This morning, Wuan found the kitten a few houses away. It had a dislocated shoulder. Its front right leg was dangling limply to the body. I do not know how Wuan did it but she managed to pop the shoulder back into the socket. She left for work after that. The kitten was confined alone in Cheeky’s room for the whole day. We converted one bathroom for Cheeky to live in. We were not too sure how Cheeky would take to it as he can be rather aggresive at times. We though it was better to keep the two apart first.

Kitten sound asleep.
Photo by Wuan.

It was walking normally when we checked on him just now. It was as if nothing happened. It could even climb up the one step from Cheeky’s room to the hallway. We are glad it is fine now. We still cannot make out its gender. We would love to adopt it ourselves but we cannot possibly look after another cat. We are going to take him to the vet this weekend to have it put up for adoption. Hopefully he will get a good home.

All Stretched Out

Peter Tan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:11:29 +0000

Photo by Wuan.

Wuan has been feeding Cheeky steamed fish for a while now. He loves it very much. In fact, he prefers it over wet kitten food and kitten biscuits. This is a shot of him resting after a very full meal. His tummy is all rounded. He usually has a good appetite. I am happy to see him growing up nicely.

There was a time when I accidentally rolled on him with my wheelchair. It was just a few days after we took him home with us from Ipoh. Like the other kittens before him, Cheeky liked to climb onto my wheelchair cargo net to rest. I was going to the toilet when he suddenly jumped out. I knew I had rolled on something when I heard a squeal and saw him scampering away in a flash to hide behind the sofa. There was cat poo on the floor too.

He did not come out when I called out to him. I was distraught because I thought I had mortally wounded him. It was a relief when he finally came out from hiding when Wuan got home a few hours later. He was mewing away as if to complain about what I did to him. He did not seem to be injured and ate well after that. The vet has also checked him and gave him an excellent bill of health. It took him a while before he dared to climb onto the cargo net again. I have also learnt to be more cautious whenever he is around.

Just yesterday, he learned to climb onto my lap when I was at the worktable. He would climb onto the sub-woofer box that was just beside the wheelchair and then onto my lap asking to be stroked and pampered. He did this again today. This little fur ball is getting more adorable by the day. It is especially a joy to watch him play with Fei Por where he would pounce on her while she would ignore his playful attacks and groomed him nonetheless.

When I Grow Up

Peter Tan — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:20:26 +0000

… I want to be just like Linda Blair in the Exorcist. What do you think? Can I make the cut? Do I look evil enough? Do I make your blood curdle at the sight of my razor-sharp fangs? Be afraid. Be very afraid! Because I will be your worst nightmare come true coming to a cinema near you.

You Can Take The Cat Out Of The Jungle

Peter Tan — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:30:35 +0000

… but you cannot take the jungle out of the cat. This is very evident in Cheeky who is fond of crouching down before pouncing on Fei Por at every available opportunity. Once in a while, he would do this to Wuan too, hiding behind the doorstep and jumping on Wuan when she passes by. These domestic cats may have lived in the urban jungle all their lives but their tracking and hunting instincts are very much intact. Such jocundity has kept us entertained when there is nothing interesting to watch on the television.