BB was a kitten when we fed him at Malcom Road in a school compound. The school’s rubbish chute was where he lived. Every night, BB would wait for his meal. He was cute, black and looked so much like Vara. A handsome boy! He was scared of humans. No one could go near him. I had to leave his food and keep a distance so that he could eat comfortably.
One day, the school security guard hurriedly ran towards me and told me that the school was trapping all the cats and they tried on BB. The trap door hit BB’s leg hard as he was escaping. BB left with a leaping leg.
Nothing good comes from trapping cats. Before things got worse, I approached the school management and volunteered to take in all the cats.
BB was still a scaredy cat when we first took him. It took me quite a while to gain his trust. We could feel that the cats rescued from Malcom Road often showed their appreciation to us. It made me realize that community cats living in the ‘forest’ had a hard life.
BB loved food. He often took a little of everything and also got the food that he wanted. He was a chronic sniffer. We took him to a few vets but nothing could be done. We gave him antibiotics and all kinds of supplements including Chinese herbs but nothing seemed to help.
Beside chronic flu, he also had kidney disease. Despite all these conditions, BB still ate well and lived happily. Just like all the other cats, I never failed to receive his love.
When I no longer see him at the same spot where he used to wait for his food or watch the way he, I’ll smile. Their deep paw prints remain in my heart. I will always cherish and appreciate having them with me. Always!
May the merits accumulated be dedicated to BB’s favourable rebirth. May the conditions that he had, lead him to the true Dhamma.
Cats who teach me to fly... 