Cats who teach me to fly…

A newly abandoned cat whom I saw about three weeks ago was suspected to be hit by a vehicle on Monday morning. Someone called SPCA and it took the cat.

I was informed about the accident on that evening and the clinic at SPCA was already closed for the day. The next morning I called the clinic and was told that the cat died on her way to SPCA… 

A cremation was arranged the following day.

***Thanks to Xiumin, April and Juffri for contributing to Angel’s cremation and also to the people who kept the feeders informed.

I often advise those who could not commit or keep their cats for life to get a plush toy instead, so that they can get rid of them whenever they like. I am serious! 

This is not the first time I’ve seen newly abandoned cats being hit by vehicles. I’ve also seen cats fallen from high floor many times. Adopters love to bargain about the types of materials which they would use to mesh up the windows. Some even tricked us to visit their home, making us think that they have fully meshed when they did not. They must have thought that we would accept and believe that their windows would be closed all the time.

Whenever humans make a mistake, our pets suffer. When humans fear death, the animals have to die! However, the law of nature is fair… and it’s scary too. 

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About six years ago, while I was searching for a missing cat who was carelessly lost by her adopter, I met a skinny calico, whom her current feeder named her Nomu.

Nomu was skinny and didn’t look like she was fed. I was glad to have met a feeder who was feeding around the area at that time. I sought her help to feed Nomu and she agreed. Without her help, I would have to travel all the way to town to feed Nomu. I am also glad that the feeder, Michelle, and I have been in touch.

Recently, Michelle told me that Nomu lost weight and didn’t seem to look well. Immediately, I volunteered to take Nomu. According to the information that we received from Nomu’s previous owner, Nomu is at least 12 years of age. To me I guess it’s time for her to retire.

She looked scared on her first day when she was home. It’s her sixth day today, not only her appetite is getting better, she no longer hides the way she used to. I caught her on CCTV one day, she sat upright grooming herself comfortably. I guess she must have groomed herself many times without my presence. She is not at all difficult as she allows me to pet her. With her increase in appetite, and her peeing and pooping seemingly healthy, I don’t feel she has any health issues. She still needs to be in the cage until she feels at ease with the cats here.

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I always like retreats held at Kong Meng San. The meditation halls provide enough space and are conducive for meditation. KMS is a Mahayana temple, good thing is they make the meditation halls look like a “free thinker’s” place. There are no statues in the halls.

I was glad to have this fortune again to attend yet another retreat with a good monk, Ajahn Vajiro. Even though I have no questions, attending retreats regularly help me understand the practice of a monastic. I still need to listen! A calm composure, soft spoken, a smiley face and a well explained Dhamma are qualities I would like to emulate. 

“Anger, a Buddhist must not have anger.” He said that. He tried to explain he too has anger. It is always good that monastics acknowledge their shortcomings just as we have them too. I remember a Sri Lanka monk said that an Arhat has anger, it’s their habit, therefore, it’s ok. Well, to me, an Arhat should not have anger because as Buddha had explained, there is a way to end all fetters and meditation is the way! Perhaps the monks have overestimated themselves. I am confident to say that there should be no fetters remaining in an Arhat!

On the first day, no matter how I had disliked walking meditation at that particular timing, I pushed my dislike away. This pushed and trained me to listen and follow instructions. Humbly and happily, with all participants, I made the right effort and remained mindfully walking. 

Inspired by the Buddha, I too, like to meditate immediately after meal. I don’t usually get sleepy during meditation after meal. Q & A was interesting. However, I prefer questions that have to do with understanding the Dhamma, the Buddha’s teachings. Other questions were equally important to the person who asked.

I was down with slight flu when I got home and didn’t attend the morning session on the next day. I sat in in the afternoon, listening attentively to his teachings. Two days is good! 

I hope there are more such retreats held at KMS. Thanks Ajahn Vajiro for his teachings, KMS for the venue and Buddha Dhamma Foundation for organising this retreats. 

May all be safe and happy!

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I don’t know how she survived. I heard her when I was feeding the community cats at Opal Crescent. The kitten’s cries was loud and clear. She must be a kitten! I followed the sound and there she was. Very tiny! I wasn’t able to catch her as she was skittish. Not sure if she had been fed. I left some food for her.

I didn’t see her for the next three or four days. So she had move to a “safer” place which was still Opal Crescent, around 20m away from where I saw her the first time. 

I heard her cries again. Still she didn’t move any closer to me but she ate the food I gave her. I hope to see her the next day and the next until I catch her. 

On the next day, she moved closer to the food and I was not far from where I left the food. She was too hungry. I gently tapped her head twice and I moved my fingers slowly down to the back of her neck and grabbed her!

Someone was actually interested in Sara Lee (大S), since the adopter is a first time cat owner and has no experience in cats, we recommended Mittens. Mittens is easier to manage than Sara. Sara is overly active and adopter may not be able to cope with her behaviour.

Adopter was so happy and sent lots of Mitten’s, which her name is Salma now,  photos and videos to us. 

Mittens is now four-months-old and it is good for adopters to grow up with their pets. We wish Mittens and her family good health. 

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She was at most three-months -old when we took her and her two siblings. Their mother was nowhere to be found. It’s hard to find a home for a pair of kittens, let alone the three of them. We thought we were lucky when we found someone who was willing to take all three. Their ex-adopters said that they once adopted a pair of kittens at SPCA, but just like Sparkle and her siblings, there were three of them and they only adopted a pair and regretted so much as they were not sure what happen to the other sibling that was left in SPCA. They didn’t want to make the same mistake and decided to take all three of them.

After two years, they decided to return Sparkle’s brother to us, reason was her brother had urinary tract infection and was also aggressive. We also learnt that the kittens were all kept in the toilet. Instead of taking one, I took all back. 

We were glad to have them back. They were sweet and get along very well when we handed them over to the adopters. When we took them home, they didn’t seem to know one another anymore. We don’t know what happened when they were at the adopter’s house. We didn’t want to know either. We’ll provide them all they need just like what we’ve provided all our cats in the house.

I hope Sparkle had enough space, cat stands and scratch posts to use. Food and water was never lacking. She loved sitting beside me while I was watching tv. Thank you for being part of my journey!

May all merits accumulated be dedicated to her favourable rebirth.

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