The Privilege Of Being A Free-Roaming Cat

Heidi bird-watching after breakfast today.

Now that Willy is no longer around (I think he has moved with his family or maybe they have sent him back to the kampung), Heidi gets to go to the playground again. She enjoys watching the birds and children play. Sometimes, she even plays WITH the older children or the cat-friendly adults.

That’s the privilege of being a free-roaming cat. But with these privileges, comes risks and dangers as well.

For my own peace of mind (note: mine, not theirs), I would much prefer that the patio cats stay within our house compound.

After all, there is so much space for them.

They have the patio, the porch, the garden, etc. But cats being who they are, will want to roam. It’s their innate nature.

Yesterday, I received sad news. I don’t know if you remember Wii, Vixey’s brother. Wii lived with us until Vixey passed on (she had congenital brain degeneration and was a pygmy cat) then Cow & Bunny kept chasing Wii out of our house in our old neighbourhood until Wii started living in our back lane and only came back for food. We had to rehome Wii for his safety and a very kindhearted friend took him in.

Wii was pampered and lived a wonderful life with her. He lived in a spacious house and had a large garden to play in.

Two days ago, Wii wandered off to the back lane, somewhere he had never been before all these years and was attacked by wild dogs. Wii was rushed to the vet’s and was alright until nightfall when he developed an infection. Two antibiotics were administered but Wii succumbed the next morning (which was yesterday).

My friend was devastated as was I. It was shocking news. But we both take comfort in knowing that she gave Wii a wonderful life filled with so much love. Wii was the “taikor’ in her house and everyone loved him very much.

I know Wii had a wonderful life. He would be 7 years old this year, 3 with me, 4 with my friend.

In such times of grieving, we console ourselves that it is life and how we have lived it that really matters. Death is inevitable. Death will come and when it does, it is only for a moment that the dying may suffer, then it’s all over. The suffering is gone. It is only we who choose to grieve because we are shocked, in denial and devastated.

This is when we have to keep telling ourselves that the deceased had lived a wonderful life and that’s what really matters – we have given our best to him/her. The moment of death is over, there is no more suffering. So we have to come to terms with this reality and embrace this wisdom. Then, we will celebrate the deceased’s life and not grieve so much over his/her death. �It also helps that there are still those who are living who need us. We have to take care of them. So we cannot allow ourselves to grieve for too long. Life has to go on for the living.

Wii is with Vixey now, on Rainbow Bridge. May he be well and happy.

And I have to take care of my 7+7 cats, inside and outside. They still need me.

Source: http://myanimalcare.org/2014/02/17/the-privilege-of-being-a-..

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AnimalCare is a registered society that promotes caregiving to street animals and helps in their neutering and medical needs. AnimalCare has a Medical Fund, Food Fund and Education Fund.

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