Cats who teach me to fly…

I brought Shunshun home last Sunday. We were told that he was not going to survive. I just hope to make his last few days at home wonderful. 

Mel was worried about me cos I was too optimistic about his condition. I told her one has to learn to be optimistic always but must also know how and when to let go when things do not go your way. I have always loved this quote by the Buddha.

“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you” ~ Buddha 

I slept with Shunshun and he was always running away from me when he saw me cos I had to force feed him. He greeted me one last time like he used to greet me when I returned home on the second day when he was back. He woke up and ran towards the door looking at me. And I knew this could be the last time. 

He and Sunshine got along very well. Whenever I moved Sunshine away from the room, he would stand at the door yelling and waiting for her to return. From what I see now, Sunshine seems to be coping well without Shunshun even when Shunshun was in the hospital for a week. And we are glad!

Sunshine behaved adorably by showing off her belly to Shunshun.

This picture was taken in Sembawang. 

Shunshun was rescued on February 2014. He was surrounded by many cats under a car and Shunshun has a pair of awkward hind legs. He could not scratch himself using his hind leg and he could neither jump high nor far, therefore, we had to bring him back and see what we can do next. 

Shortly after we brought him home, he had a pillow ear and I sent him to AMK vet for surgery. Since then we realised Shunshun was actually a sweet boy. Giving him medicine and cleaning his ear was not difficult. 

He just loved sitting at the hammock. I remember he was named “crocodile” when we first brought him back cos he just couldn’t stop biting us. Until Sunshine came into his life and everything changed…

Sunshine would jump so high and when she descends, she would tap on Shunshun’s head hard and I was always laughing and Shunshun would look so blurred. He didn’t see it coming I believe. Sunshine opened his heart up and Shunshun began to learn to love and not bite anymore. 

When Shunshun was home last Sunday, Sunshine kept licking him. Showing him her love as usual…

I am glad that I did not choose to euthanize him. Shunshun left peacefully and Mel was with him.

I read the Medicine Buddha Sutra to him every night and tonight Mel read to him and he left when Mel was halfway reading it. I chanted the mantra. Whatever I can do for my cats and all my loved ones, I did it for them way before anything happens to them. Therefore, I was not upset with Shunshun’s departure. There is really nothing to hold on to our contaminated body. I told Shunshun that our body is useless. Come back with a healthy body and meet me again. As long as ‘mummy’ did not fall into the lower realm and you would not too.

Through our effort and virtues, may Shunshun have a favourable rebirth.