The Cat Owner's Manual

I got this from the New Paper, if you've got a cat, you may be able to identify:

"There is no snooze button on a cat which wants breakfast."

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this."

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow."

"In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats."

"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later."

"People who hate cats will come back as mice in their next life."

Amorous Cats

I was late for work this morning observing my cats. Usually Leia would sprawl herself in the middle of the door as if preventing me from leaving, but today, Leia and Timmy were sitting together and Leia was licking Timmy affectionately.

I was of course amuse... but slightly worried. Leia had in the past, after sniffing Timmy, slapped him with her paw...So I observed.... almost for five minutes, Leia continued licking Timmy's face, and Timmy was enjoying it.... I reasoned that five minutes was a little too long for a prelude to a slap. So I decided I could leave, it was probably affection rather than rivalry.

Have I accomplished what was difficult... the two cats loving each other? Perhaps... I walked out of my house, happy!



Another thing, remember in a previous blog I said that Timmy's ulcers were back... well, I am still observing him but as it stands right now... these two weeks that I am back, his condition has improved... perhaps, my presence does calm him down.

More photos soon!

Unconditional Love

I was tired. I was sleepy. But Timmy and Leia were hungry.... Leia was making a lot of noise... I could not go on sleeping. I had to feed them... they ate from out of my hands. They ate slowly. Timmy made things more difficult by running out half way through. I ran after him to make sure he ate.. Leia ran after me, asking me to feed her. She had finished her food and wanted to eat some more.... because Timmy was still eating. There will always be rivalry between the two.

Later both of them were on each of my side, I was combing their hair... both lying down... helpless in my hands...

I realise, they do not have a choice but to depend on me. They have no choice but to trust that I meet their needs. They are helpless. I realise that faced with such a situation, I do not have the heart to be mean... I can only respond to meet their needs and wants.

I learn to love and be loved.

The Trap of the Shallow Mindset

"Growing old with only cats"... Always I have simply put it aside with a smile. Nobody wants to grow old only with cats... I agree.

I think what really upsets me is when someone sees me, and if he/she especially knows me and my lifestyle, and comes to the conclusion that I will grow old only with cats!

I am growing older (we all are!) and I have cats and I love my cats. But that does not mean that I am growing old only with cats, just because I have no significant man in my life!

Think about it:
- with my travelling, my bug bear is I do not have time for my cats, I need to pay my groomers to take care of my cats when I am away;
- my cats are not a substitute for human companionship - I did not adopt them because I was lonely and I still have a social life when I am in Singapore!
- my cats are teaching me ways to love and be selfless, which can only help me to be more receptive to love other fellow humans.

Having a significant other does not guarantee happiness, neither satisfaction nor love. It is not guaranteed that just because a person is married with kids, that she would have a more fulfilled life than I do with my cats...

We each have our own stories. We make or break with what we have. In the end, we are beholden to only ourselves... we write our own stories, we define our own happiness and laugh or cry with what we decide...

The next time when you give me your sympathies, .... think again, you may just be trapped in the shallow mindset!

My friends' cats

Amongst me and my Japanese gang, Tomoko was the first to get a cat. Here is a photo of Seibei, her Persian cat, she has 2 others now. I was next.




Then Toshiki came to Singapore, fell in love with Leia (Timmy was not here yet). She went back to Paris and got Barnaby!



Only Mariko is without a cat.... can't imagine her with a cat... but then again she may be ahead of us and have babies instead!

My delicate Princess

From Palembang I called home - my parents were house and cat sitting for me. The helper said that Leia had cried... because she probably missed me. I missed her and Timmy too.

As usual, when I come home, Leia and Timmy makes it difficult for me, Leia especially...

We ran out of fresh beef and it was too late to buy from the market, so i got some frozen minced beef from the supermarket... and what do you know, my delicate little princess, though hungry, refused to eat!

Timmy eats almost anything... His ulcers are starting again. I have to take him to the doctors next week when I am not travelling.