Cats who teach me to fly…

Sunkiss left us on 18 September. Sometimes I just wish that rainbow bridge exists but we know there’s no rainbow bridge but it’s ok, there’s always heaven up there…

He had a naughty face. There were a few times I shooed him out of the kitchen. How I wish I could be gentle to him. But he always got the food that he wanted and I bought it just for him. No one eats it except him. I gave him yunzhi(chinese mushroom) supplement every night. Hoping to boost his immunity since he was a FIV cat. Always hoping that I could do more…

Sunkiss taught me to be more gentle…but they’re animals. Perhaps a kiss for every cat whenever I stop them from entering the kitchen.

Thanks Sunkiss for being a part of my life.

Thanks to Xiumin for sponsoring his food, vet bill and cremation.

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An agreement was signed between his owners and rescuers. They agreed to pay Ayob’s vet bill weekly to us. However, they gave up halfway. We don’t know them but out of compassion, we allowed them to pay us the amount they felt comfortable with. The overall surgery, hospitalisation and follow up bill rounded up to 7.6k and so far they paid less than 2.5k. They didn’t keep their words and follow through the whole process. Now Precious is surrendered to us.

Precious is a super friendly cat. He jumps into BG’s playpen and grooms him. Precious is less than 2-years-old so rehoming him should be easy. Moreover, he’s a ginger boy, gets along well with other cats and good with humans as well.

For cases like this, I feel that it is best not to trust anyone no matter how hard they beg for help. All I can say is, for Precious’s owners, they love him less and less as days passed by. At first, his mother cried and begged, telling us how much she loved him and how much she wanted to keep him no matter what the price was. She gave him up because she’s pregnant. What’s new? Cats are often abandoned when couples divorce, live separately or when the wife gets pregnant. It’s typical!

We’ll be sending Precious for vaccination next week and run a blood test as well, after which we’ll put him up for adoption!

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We did our best and so did Tigger. He passed on after I came back from my night feeding. He looked peaceful. Didn’t seem to have struggled with breathing.

Life has always been a mockery. Who would expect a young boy like him to have brain tumor…

Tigger’s final moment.

It has been a month after his passing. It still aches thinking of him, Hearty, Nagar, Futian and even Cashie and everyone… It keeps me wonder sometimes if treading the Bodhisattva path is possible. I would say unlikely. True indeed, Buddha would have guided the path or walked himself if it’s possible. The Buddha did not.

Tigger, we’ll practise the true Dhamma together one day!

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I needed a retreat and I signed up. The retreat was held at KMSPKS, organised by Buddha Dhamma Foundation.

The retreat wasn’t an easy one. With at least 4 hours of meditation every day, it really trained me well and I benefited so much. It was a break through for me. Ajahn Karuniko exhibited a calm and impartial mind which I wish to emulate.

I’ve never heard about Ajahn Karuniko but I would like to know his teachings more:).

It was an unexpected experiences. It completely replaced the unpleasant retreat I had at Jhana Grove last year. I have learnt that we need to learn something whenever we attend a retreat. The retreat must be beneficial. Otherwise, we’ll be wasting our time and money.

A complete group photo! This is what Jhana Grove didn’t give me. The photo was cropped from where I was standing. That was petty. Not admirable. Unpleasant.

According to the organiser, another 2 similar retreats will be held within this year. I look forward to attend and I will make the retreat worthwhile and will practise diligently!

And goodbye Jhana Grove!

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I received a text from someone who saw him and this boy looks like my community cat, Tigger. I rushed quickly to the scene. I still thought that it was Tigger, Mel knew he wasn’t. Because I thought he was hit by a car and his mouth was bleeding, the impact from the vehicle may cause his face to look different! Ha!

When we arrived at the vet clinic, I realised that he was wearing a collar. I was confused at that moment and I texted to Xiumin and check with her if Tigger was at the feeding ground. YES! He was spotted there! There was a name and contact number on Ayob’s collar. We tried to contact Ayob’s owner, however, the number didn’t seem to be working anymore. Shortly his owner called me.

Because Ayob has an owner, we couldn’t release him to his owner if we were to go ahead with the treatment so I told his owner that I couldn’t return her. His owner made a big hoo-haa and her speech wasn’t pleasant to hear. After checking with the authorities on the rights of a rescuer, we decided to return Ayob to his owner.

At first his owner was happy but shortly Ayob’s owner called me, apologised and decided to give up Ayob because they have no time to take care of him after the surgery. So Mel and I created a contract that they agreed to transfer the cat’s ownership to me. When we were about to meet up and sign the contract, Ayob’s owner tried to negotiate with us. So we came off with another contract that they’ll settle the vet bills through a instalment payment. Not until all payment is paid up will we transfer the cat’s ownership to them.

Ayob has a broken cleft palate and two broken bones on his front left leg.

It cost more than 7k for two operations to fix everything. He fell from high floor. All Mel and I hope is that his owner would keep their word and settle the bill.

All surgeries went smoothly. The cleft palate surgery and bone surgery were done on a different day. A pin and plate were inserted into his broken bones to keep it intact. He’ll need at least two months to heal. I guess I’ll have to keep him a little while…

So far Ayob has been doing well and began to be playful. This coming Thursday, I’d have to send him to the clinic to clean his wound on his neck as a tube was inserted for feeding purposes and the following Wednesday for removing the feeding tube and stitches for his leg!

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