Yesterday started out bad.  When I woke up, Noel, one of the female foster gliders was curled up in a corner of the glider enclodure looking decidedly unwell.  I decided she HAD to go to the vet.  But first, I had a couple of things to do at the shop as well.  I also had to pick Akiko up to take her to Hasnul as she had suddenly deteriorated.

*Akiko is our FIV+ cat.  She was one of the first cats to come to us and she was heavily pregnant. Throughout her pregnancy, she was sickly and fragile.  When she delivered 5 little fishballs , we were delighted.  They grew each day and amazed us with their zest for life.  Perhaps they knew how little time they would have…

Just a few days short of a month, they began to die.  They would sicken and perish in the space of a mere 12 hours.  At first we thought we were doing something wrong.  When the second one died, we went to Hasnul.  He was puzzled.  By the time he fourth one died, he had diagnosed Akiko with FIV and said our last kitten would likely join her siblings at rainbow bridge.  BUT LAIKA LIVED!  And Akiko too.

At two fifteen, I called Hand N Paws to ask for Dr Jenny.  I was told she was busy but to come on to the clinic.  Her colleague refused to text me their address which I had hoped to locate with my borowed GARMIN.  I was told to call again when I had arrived at Hasnuls.  Frustrated, I packed the boys, Akiko and Noel into the car with me and made a beeline for Hasnul’s.  It began to rain heavily and I had to crawl along the highway all the while wondering if Akiko and Noel could afford the delay.

I was absolutely soaked to the bone dropping Akiko off.  Salwa said they would take care of Akiko and there was no point in my staying as she would need a drip and blood tests.  I left with a heavy heart and a sense of foreboding.  I wish I had listened to my instincts and stroked her one  last time. 

I got into the car, and called Hand N Paws but they were busy. The next twenty minutes was spent desperately trying to get in touch with them and driving towards Tropicana which they had assured me was near the clinic.  When I eventually got in touch, they were unable to direct me to thier clinic “Because most people who come to us already know the way!”.

I called Hun in desperation and she told me Dr Jenny had already left!  I was stupefied.  Impossible!  By this time, I was five minutes away, having been given a road that the GARMIN could pick up.  NOTE: Aman Suria does NOT exist in GARMIN’s Damansara.

When I finally found the clinic at four, Dr Ly, whom I had spoken to was nowhere to be seen. Dr Mervyn, eventually spoke to me, confirming that Dr Jenny had indeed gone to the doctor.  After about ten minutes, he said no one could treat Noel and that I should come back at six!  Knowing full well that I had come from Ampang, with two children and a sick exotic in tow.  

I cannot believe that he did not even ask what was wrong with Noel.

I cannot believe that they could not have compassion for a woman with two small children and two sick animals who had driven in a storm to seek help.

Isabel is a vet.  Where she practices, vets should be able to offer at least basic treatment to ANY SPECIES of animal. 

What kind of vets do we have here in Malaysia?

*Noel is holding up thanks to first aid advice from Hun.  If you need help with your glider and cannot get to a vet (or are perceived as not worthy of treatment by said vet’s colleagues) give her a call.  Her website is www.suggiesathome.com

And Akiko passed away today.

I came across this in kitten.com.my and thought it would make good reading.

Hi All, I’m new to cats.

I’ve just got something to clarify about breeders but do bear in mind when reading this that I dont mean any offence. It’s just for my own clarity.

Right now have have 2 cats. One persian cross I got from a petshop and another a purebred Ragdoll. I’ve been doing a lot of online research on breeders just to understand the ‘world’ better (I refrain from using the word ‘industry’ I see obvious differences between my cat from petshop and cat from breeder especially where health and attitude is concerned. My Ragdoll is a wonderful, happy, people loving cat whereas the persian is widhdrawn and reserved + he has all the common medical probs like eye infection, ear mites and fungus. Thankfully, after a lot of patience and time, he’s doing much better now – so definitely I’m never getting another cat from a petshop!

Just wanted to clarify – what constitutes a backyard breeder? Are we referring to petshops? What about breeders who are not CFA registered but still sell their cats by the thousands (RM).

There are also people who claim to have purebred unregistered cats and start breeding them ‘unintentionally’ because they don’t believe in neutering but still sell the cats at a costly price.

I’ve recently come across an unregistered breeder who seems to say having cats is a hobby but still breeds for business….just not sure if I should support this or not. He’s selling the kittens at more than 1K and definitely cheaper than the CFA registered kitten of the same breed. He does seem to care genuinely about the cats though – so I’m not sure if I should support this.

Plus I’ve seen many ads in adpost etc where people just sell cats and kittens without certs and seem to be throwing prices as they like..

Share your thoughts please?

Here is my reply

Good questions!

To begin, don’t assume that having certification means that the breeder is instantly ethical. There are some registered breeders who still sell cats indiscriminately, without assuring the future of their kittens.

In my mind, the ethical breeder

1. Will provide the best possible care and lifestyle for their breeding cats.
2. Will want to know what happens to their kitten once it goes to it’s new home.
3. Will never sell intact kittens and cats to people without serious research and background. WHy do you want an intact cat? Which lines will you put my cat with? Have you made sure they are all healthy? What kind of conditions will your breeding cats be kept in?
4. Will never push you to buy a cat from them.
5. Will be willing to recommend other breeders.
6. Will talk to you and guide you if you have any questions.

If you find someone who isn’t certiified but does all this, then the next question is does it matter? There are many in this forum who will say, OK what! Asalkan the cats are loved, there should be no problem.

I ask you this. How many times have you seen cats dying of starvation? How many times have you seen homeless cats (and dogs) loitering around, scrounging for food, worrying if it will be able to feed it’s litter? Have you seen the unwilling females tormented and hounded by the randy males?

There is no reason to breed unless you intend to show! Some (particularly rescuers, animal welfare activists etc) even would go so far as to say, no breeding (intentional or not) full stop. Being reasonable, I would say that is too extreme. So I conclude that the only good reason to breed is for showing. Then the non-show quality should be neutered and placed in loving pet homes.

So, those who breed as a hobby without intending to show (and thus have no need for ceritification) are only contributing to the problem of homeless animals. Afterall, why make more cats without a valid reason? If they are merely for pets, then what’s wrong with the cat on the street?

Hair too short? Face no flat enough?
Care to admit your love is not of the cat but then, of it’s looks?
Anyone squirming yet?

I’m posting this because I get posed this question so many many times.  I guess it’s time a black and white is due.  Do follow the thread in kitten.coml.my and contribute your thoughts.  This is one I’ll be watching.

Often people come to us looking for kittens.  And this is well and good.  Who can resist their frolicksome games and untroubled hearts?

But spare a thought for the mature ones too.  Each creature has a story to tell and each of the cats below deserve love and a permanent home as much as the next.    Some of these have been with us for almost three years and that is a long time to wait…

When I settled into the new place, I asked if we could take in a cat and the husband said yes very easily.  Before he could change his mind, I asked Olivia to help me.  ‘Who has been here longest?’, ‘Who is least likely to be adopted?’  She asnwered easily, ‘Pasha.’

I had a vague recollection of a serene and unassuming brown ticked tabby.  I cannot remember how she came to us, only that she had indeed been with us for a long time.  And she has a very sparse coat.  People usually ignore her because she is not the prettiest cat in the block.  Each time the potential adopter discerns her somewhat bald bottom, she instantly loses favour.

Well, my kids don’t seem to notice how ‘pretty’ an animal is.  (Bear in mind, our home is ruled by Emily Elizabeth TiaraBella Tinkerbell, once a almost drowned and emaciated black kitten that Katelin decided she would keep for herself.  She never came to be put up for adoption as we already had a surplus of black cats.)  So Pasha got lucky and got to come home with me.

From the start, she oozed gratitude.  She stayed mainly in the room where most of the unpacked boxes were kept and only left to eat and use the toilet.  When she realised she was allowed in the garden, the rapture of being allowed to breathe fresh air and walk on grass made me remember not to take my human freedom for granted.

As she realised she was no longer confined in a glass room (the boarding rooms at the shop) and was free to come and go, her lovely personality became even more evident.  It has been a little over two months and she seems terribly grateful and observes me very avidly.  It is as if she wants to tell me she’d like to return the favour.

Imagine my surprise to find her keeping vigil in the storeroom after she heard me muttering and plotting  about rats in the kitchen

Anyway, below are some of the others who have been with us a long time and would love love love a home of their own.

This is not an invitation to abandon kittens outside our store!

innocent

However, about a week ago, a box was found outside out store with a terrified mother cat with four newborn, and i mean NEW born kittens.  The wee things still had thier umbilical cords on and their eyes were and are still sealed shut.  Naturally, we took them in.

I suspect she was someone’s pet because she is in good health, clean and arrived in carboard box with kittens.  However, I’ll withold assumptions and we’ll say someone found her with her kittens and didn’t want her to suffer.  That’s really noble.  But it would’ve been better if they had taken it upon themselves to help her.  I’ve named her Erela which means Angel, Messenger in Hebrew.

Erela

Let me explain.

In Malaysia, people love to moan and complain about what is wrong with…everything.  The government, work, traffic.  While we have many strengths, getting one with things and DOING something about what upsets us is not our forte.

So when it comes to animal welfare, we curse SPCA for putting animals to sleep.  The next day, we go and buy a purebred shih tzu from the pet shop or a domestic longhair aka doll face persian.  This type of hypocrisy really does no one any good!

Here’s a little action plan that can and will change animal welfare.

1. Neuter your own pets.
2. Promise to neuter four random cats or dogs a year.
3. IF you come across and mother cat/dog with kittens/puppies, help them by feeding mum (and later the youngones) until they are over 1.5kg, then neuter them all at KLINIK KEMBIRI! After that you can continue to feed them if you want but at least they won’t mulitply.
4. Don’t buy from petshops.  So many  people tell me they rescued their pet from a pet shop.  This is ultimately a lie because if you think your pet had a shitty life in the petshop, spare a thought for your pet’s mum and dad in the ‘mill’.
5. Don’t expect SPCA, PAWS, FFF or other organisations to do it all.
6. If you really cannot care for mum and young and you need to pass them on to a shelter, don’t just dump them there.  Ask if it’s OK. (In our case, we would’ve taken mum and kittens in because we sadly lost four young cats to various illnessess).
7. ADOPT your next pet from a rescuer or shelter.

My Daughters

This photo was taken by JC Lim of my two daughters.  One of my heart and the other of my body.

It’s truly wonderful and I thank him for it.  If you would like photography or your pets or children, please sms 0123266456 for more info.

Over the years, I’ve become a little jaded with the whole pet welfare issue and sometimes, I wish I could walk away and leave it to someone else.  Imagine my shock when asked to foster a 13 year old spaniel cross.  To be frank and risk much disapproval, I uncharitably worried this dog would end up with me for the rest of it’s life.  While I fought the husband tooth and nail to foster her, I also worried if anyone else would be guillible enough to take her on.

When I meet her, my fears were further confirmed.  She smelled and her eyes were what I always imagined rheumy would be like.  When she got home, she promptly started harrassing TiaraBella, one of our cats.  While Tiara was deeply offended (and this is a very strong understatement), she suffered no permanent harm.

However, as the weeks have passed, I have developed a certain fondness for this fiesty octogenarian (I surmise this from her potential human ago of approx. 89).  She eats anything and adores the kids.  She will play with the other dogs as if her joints do not hurt.  She is itchy and her skin must have been very sore when she first came to us for when I bathed her, she shuddered- yes, she truly did, in pleasure and made these little happy grunts.  If I didn’t worry about drying out her skin further, I’d bathe her more often

As she is even more intent on assasinating Tiara than ever, Abby sadly has to sleep outside.  However, when I open the gate, she only wanders as quickly as her stiff joints will allow for a sniff around the cul-de-sac before heading straight back into the porch where her bed and bowl are.  My other obliviously pampered pooches would’ve put me through a cardiac workout before I’d be able to shoo them back into the compound.  And let’s not forget the  Making-an-Idiot-of-Oneself-on-the -Street routine I’d have to perform as I run about wildly, trying to decide whether it is more important to rescue Chloe from being pecked to death by chickens or reaching Tristan before he jumps into some random punters car.

Chan KahYein

Anyway, Kahyein of MyAnimalCare.org (who asked me to foster Abby) kept her word!  She has found someone to take Abby on and she performed some other more subtle miracle.  Somehow, she has reinstilled in me, faith-  in other people.  This is the first time in along time where I have been asked to help out and have not ended up having to do it all myself.

This is a woman who works tirelessly to find homes for unwanted animals, purebred or not.  She encourages others who care, raises fund for CNRM (not sure what the entire acronym stands for, but it is along the lines of TNR) is unfailingly polite.  And she keeps her word.

These few years have taught me much.  I have learned to let go.  I don’t make assumptions about people who abandon/surrender their pets.  I try not to freak out when one of the kittens die on us (even after we spent RM700 on the vet bills!) but it seems I still have much to learn.  From people like Kahyein.

PS/- I have thought many times in the last few weeks that I would keep Abby.  But recently she has also decided she cannot abide the rabbits.  I attribute this sudden abhorrence to the fact that her eyes have cleared up enoug for her to see that her bed is, heaven forbid, very close to ther rabbits penthouse.  I think she feels obliged to make her disgust known lest she fails to honour her spaniel ancestors So, on the 10th of Oct, Abby will go to her new home.

photos courtesy of JC Lim

I would like to apologise to our readers for my lack of new material as of late.  This is a totally pet UNRELATED post but I thought I’d offer an explanation.  I am in the process of moving house and have been totally swamped with packing, painting, cleaning et cetera.  After some persuasion, I agreed to hire painters instead of painting myself…and boy, am I glad.  It is a phenomenally large job!

I have spent almost two entire days sorting out the pond in the new place too!  More pets, yay me.  And I didn’t have to blackmail the husband into agreeing.  They just came with the house.

If you know of anyone who has good quality second hand furniture, please get them to email me some pics.  We are looking for beds, sideboards, chairs, armchairs, side tables, drawers and the like.  I would love to but second hand (to reduce consumption of new raw materials) but have found it almost impossible to find things at a reasonable price.

Well, that’s it for now really.  Gotta get back to work.