Food was her motivation. I remembered that when we sent Nagar to physiotherapy, the therapist motivated her with treats. She would walk a few steps, slow and easy to reach her treats and continue being lured to walk to her treats again and again. The staff simply love Nagar as she was easy to handle.

Nagar was able to walk at an extremely slow pace but what we hope was for her to pee by herself. After sending her to many vets, nothing can be done. We need to express her bladder.

Nagar was sharing her playpen for a day with a new rescue who was the same as her.

For Nagar, everyone is welcome into her playpen. When Nagar was at the living room, Lana would jump into her playpen and ate her food. That’s Lana who loves to eat others’ food.

When we moved Nagar to the master bedroom, she had Futian to keep her company and Futian would eat her food because food served to Nagar were different from others.

I love watching Nagar savouring her food. She was the only cat who took time to taste and eat. Bit by bit, in a very small portion one at a time.

Not only was she contented with the food, I too felt contented looking at the empty bowl.

I’ve never felt tired taking care of Nagar. I just hope Nagar had a good time with us.

Wherever she may be, may we meet one day and practise the Dhamma together.

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Who was that lady squatting by the side of the road, I asked myself? Nobody would have done that under the hot evening sun. I turned away and looked at Kaixin, wondering where she would hide herself. As Kaixin moved closer to the road, I too followed her closely. I lifted my head again looking at that lady who was still squatting. The sun must be really hot and she had to squat and rest herself in such a way. Kaixin had moved further away and I lost sight of her. It was time for me to leave Jalan Tenteram as well.

As I got closer to the main road and for the third time, finally the lady got up and started to move towards me. Gosh…what was she doing? Xiumin, the cat feeder! It was her feeding time. I asked her why was she squatting there. She replied that she was playing a chanting recording for Daisy. It was exactly the place where Daisy got hit by the car. I was completely moved by her act. Who in the world would do that? Squatting under a hot evening sun! Even I wouldn’t do that. I’ve always wanted more people to love and care for the community cats. So Daisy had another blessing! Yay!

I’m very fortunate to have Xiumin to feed the cats. The cats’ life get better in fact. They have a variety of good quality canned food which Xiumin would pamper them with. She feeds them generously and even donated cartons of can food for my rescues as well. She even contributed vet bills for cats whom I’ve brought home from Jalan Tenteram, namely, Sunkiss, Mickey etc… Mel and I felt offloaded. At least we’re able to breathe a little.

She also helped me when Feishu was trapped in the flat. To me, such responsible feeders are hard to come by. The community cats were and are fortunate too.

May more feeders like Xiumin appear in this world. Save, help and give and finally liberate themselves and also others.

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Fear and hunger drove him sneaking, hiding and running around. It was another abandoned case and when will these owners listen? GET A TOY!!!

He was a black cat and so is 小福. I thought it was Xiaofu, I attempted to stroke her as usual whenever she is eating, he jumped with fright and hissed at me and I jumped like he did. We both were startled. He ran away immediately. That wasn’t Xiaofu! It was an imitation of Xiaofu! I laughed at myself.

Since then, I’ve been leaving food for him and finally, he settled down and waited at the same place and time for his only meal. He had 2 small cans of food every time and he would just simply stand there and stare at me until I left Sembawang.

He wasn’t sterilised so I arranged one for him. I didn’t want him to be a stray so we decided to rehome him.

Asher was a FIV cat and I believe that he had an underlying heart issue that weakened him quickly after his vaccination.

The photo above was taken to publicise him in the social media for the coming adoption drive. Sadly, it never happened…

Asher, when he was still a “fugitive”! He was a sweet boy. He allowed me to pet him and would roll on the floor. Many times I had to get him off the road.

I didn’t have the fortune to find or give him a home but I hope, like what I’ve always hope for, that all the cats who had passed on, may we study and practise the Dhamma together in our future lives.

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She has been consistently hyperactive for 10 years. Always dashing here and there. Zoomed up the trees and zoomed down towards the top of the lorries’ tyre to satisfy her need to scratch. Then zoomed here and there at her fastest speed. Whenever I caught her catching rats, I’d stop her immediately. Most of the time, it was too late. She often pretended to eat in my present and from her pretense, I understood that she appreciated our presence.

Above photos were beautifully taken by a Chinese couple recently. They love her so much and often gave her treats. Knowing that Daisy had gone missing, they spent hours looking for her at night till I was there to feed the cats which was already midnight. The man got up early the next day to check with the cleaners if they had seen Daisy.

Daisy met with an accident in the wee hours of Friday morning. I petted her before I left on Friday midnight. According to the cleaner, Daisy was found at 7.30am in the morning.

Daisy’s owner wanted her to be pregnant again. Kittens were born only to be abandoned, hit by cars and the only lucky one was taken home by me. Sunshine aka 小起 was Daisy’s kitten. I sterilised Daisy when her kittens were old enough to eat by themselves. Daisy was happy then and put on weight gradually.

As a hyperactive cat, Daisy had all the freedom that she wanted. There wasn’t any health issues. She was still able to climb up the trees and dash around. The vehicle must have been travelling in an extremely fast speed that night that Daisy failed to avoid it.

No matter what, I’m always glad that beside me, along the years, a few people have come to love Daisy and the community cats. I want to thank those who feed and love them. These caregivers have lessened my load. Most importantly, I want the cats to feel loved and cared for.

Daisy! May we meet again and practise the Dhamma together! That’s my wish!

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When Futian started to breathe heavily with her mouth opened, I probably knew that she wasn’t going to live long.

After 2 weeks of antibiotics, she began to breathe with her mouth opened again and that was when I had decided to send her for a second opinion.

After the surgery, the vet was optimistic and sent her back on the same day. Immediately when I let her out from the carrier, she began to grasp her breath and passed on shortly. Her suffering was short from my point of view but to Futian, a second can be a minute and 5 minutes can be an hour. Both the vet and myself carried an intention to relieve her pain and sufferings as well as to extend her life… we cannot see nor can we control her life. I wanted to cry hard but that won’t help.

Since the truth has been discovered, I don’t chant anymore. I’ve complete confidence in the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha and practising virtues myself, I shall not compromise.

I read Salla Sutta for Futian and other suttas as well but repeated Salla Sutta often. It was the first time I read this sutta and it penetrated deep in me.

The Salla sutta goes like this.

• Anthology of Discourses 3.8

The Dart

Unforeseen and unknown is the extent of this mortal life—hard and short and bound to pain.

There is no way that those born will not die. On reaching old age death follows: such is the nature of living creatures.

As ripe fruit are always in danger of falling, so mortals once born are always in danger of death.

As clay pots made by a potter all end up being broken, so is the life of mortals.

Young and old, foolish and wise—all go under the sway of death; all are destined to die.

When those overcome by death leave this world for the next, a father cannot protect his son, nor relatives their kin.

See how, while relatives look on, wailing profusely, mortals are led away one by one, like a cow to the slaughter.

And so the world is stricken by old age and by death. That is why the wise do not grieve, for they understand the way of the world.

For one whose path you do not know—not whence they came nor where they went—you lament in vain, seeing neither end.

If a bewildered person, lamenting and self-harming, could extract any good from that, then those who see clearly would do the same.

For not by weeping and wailing will you find peace of heart. It just gives rise to more suffering, and distresses your body.

Growing thin and pale, you hurt yourself. It does nothing to help the dead: your lamentation is in vain.

Unless a person gives up grief, they fall into suffering all the more. Bewailing those whose time has come, you fall under the sway of grief.

See, too, other folk departing to fare after their deeds; fallen under the sway of death, beings flounder while still here.

For whatever you imagine it is, it turns out to be something else. Such is separation: see the way of the world!

Even if a human lives a hundred years or more, they are parted from their family circle, they leave this life behind.

Therefore, having learned from the Perfected One, dispel lamentation. Seeing the dead and departed, think: “I cannot escape this.” 

As one would extinguish a blazing refuge with water, so too a sage—a wise, astute, and skilled person—would swiftly blow away grief that comes up, like the wind a tuft of cotton.

One who seeks their own happiness would pluck out the dart from themselves—the wailing and moaning, and sadness inside.

With dart plucked out, unattached, having found peace of mind, overcoming all sorrow, one is sorrowless and extinguished.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato

Futian didn’t put on much weight but her fur grew better.

Her latest photo taken recently. Futian cremation will be held on this Sunday evening.

I’ve been reflecting on the sutta. Understand the Four Noble Truths at a deeper level. May the understanding and penetration on the Buddha’s teachings never end.

Thank you Futian. May we meet again and practise the Dhamma together in our future lives.

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