Rambling thoughts from a Cystic Patient – Part I

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

So I had a laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy on Monday, 27 November.

My eyes started tearing the moment my hubby’s face faded from my view as the nurse pushed me into the lift on the way down to the Operating Theatre (OT).

Yes, call me a coward, but thoughts of never waking up from the operation flashed through my mind. Don’t ask me why.

While in the waiting area, I calmed my nerves and reminded myself that my friends and loved ones are saying their prayers for me, and FORGOODNESSSAKE THIS IS A MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE so get a grip on yourself woman!!

No way, man, I tell you. My whole body shook uncontrollably – I don’t know if it’s from the cold in the room (I was only clad in a thin hospital gown), hunger (having had my last meal of the day at 7.30am, and my operation was scheduled for 6.30pm) or simply, senseless fright.

I’ve always thought that they would knock you out before wheeling you into the OT (at least, that was what they did to me when I was a 9-year-old undergoing operation to remove a growth on my wrist). I had a good look around the OT. The medical apparatus and wired devices intrigued me. My pulse rate remained at a cool 60 bpm. But I didn’t feel calm at all.

They had to insert a humongous intravenous needle into my metacarpal vein for an IV drip. The anaesthetist assured me that it’s not gonna hurt. I didn’t dare to peep. He gave me a local anaesthesia on my left hand (he was right, it felt like an itsy bitsy ant bite) and proceeded to insert the needle into my numbed vein.

I waited for what seemed like eternity before the surgeons finally appeared in the OT. Here I was, shivering and shaking and feeling somewhat embarrassed that the surgical team could see me trembling under the thick blanket. Their reassuring smiles and cheerful banter did nothing to relieve my mounting tension.

“Are you ready?” My gynae asked.

You gotta be kiddin’, Doc.

So this is it. Honestly, I don't remember being so fearful undergoing surgery as a kid.

The anaesthetist did his job swiftly, telling me at the same time to think of beautiful things, such as holidays and nice places. I felt the tingly anaesthesia rushing up my arm. Before I knew it (it must have been less than 5 seconds), my consciousness faded into a black abyss.


Mama Piggy is now recuperating at home, with Kootoo Monster providing good company.

* * * To be continued * * *

Strange bedfellows

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



For once, the Monster and the Terror are warming up to each other by snoozing in close proximity. Must be the cool weather.

Cat physics:
Law of Cat Inertia - A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse.

Oh, behave!

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

No, we are not imagining things but it does seem that Milo is even more frisky after his de-mojo-ing! Maybe he's making up for lost time, heh ...


Milo: I have my rights as a frisky kitten! That includes hogging toys!

Milo gets on the nerves of Kootoo Monster ...


Kootoo: Do you think Papa Porky will notice if I wallop Milo? I'll make sure he doesn't lose too much fur ... at least not where it is most obvious.

... and even the Resident Groucho runs helter skelter from the prancing tiger.


Muffin: Why can't he leave me alone? For that matter, why can't everyone leave me ALONE?

Maybe it's time to administer this again?


Milo: Grrrrrrr! I am going to chew this off!

Cat physics:
Law of Obedience Resistance - A cat's resistance varies in proportion to a human's desire for her to do something.

Milo's got balls ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

... to challenge Top Cat Kootoo Boy.



No PEAS? No PEACE!

Cat Physics:
Law of Cat Composition - A cat is composed of Matter + Anti-Matter + It Doesn't Matter.

Happy cats don't need balls ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



... they need TLC, especially after losing their balls :)

Cat physics:
Law of Cat Thermodynamics - Heat flows from a warmer to a cooler body, except in the case of a cat, in which case all heat flows to the cat.

When you gotta go ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

... you gotta go - to the vet, that is.



Milo's scheduled for de-mojo-ing this Friday. He will be 8 months old come Monday, old enough to lose his balls.

Cat physics:
Law of Cat Sleeping - All cats must sleep with people whenever possible, in a position as uncomfortable for the people involved as is possible for the cat.

Trojan kitty!

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

The kitties' curiosity piqued by a souvenir from Phuket.


Hmmm, the head does not smell like a kitty ...


... and the hind has a lovely, woody fragrance!


Top Cat Kootoo pronounce the wood block kitty good for sharpening one's claws.

Cat physics:
Law of Cat Disinterest - A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him.

The Office

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



Back at work and doing Over Time +_+

I'd rather be home cuddling the cats.

Cat physics:
Law of Refrigerator Observation - If a cat watches a refrigerator long enough, someone will come along and take out something good to eat.

Back to the daily grind

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

We're back from the lovely island of Phuket!

The cats missed us terribly, especially Kootoo Boy.

My sister, who popped by twice a day to look after the trio, said Kootoo was rather subdued and ignored her totally. He even crouched outside our bedroom and howled *_*

I can't imagine what it would be like if we were to take two weeks' vacation!

Here are some vacation pixs taken with my Nokia N73.


Pretty flowers at a spa.


Sunset at Patong beach.


This one really tickled me!! (Katoys = "Lady boys")


Grim reminder of the disaster in 2004.


Chanced upon this while shopping at Tesco. Cat food for 40 baht!! (S$1 approximately 23.3 baht)

Cats physics:
Second Law of Energy Conservation- Cats also know that energy can only be stored by a lot of napping.

Uh-oh ...

GULP!



The Pigs are going away for a short holiday tomorrow!!

I guess being the Top Cat has its responsibilities, eh?

It's time to whip these two boys into shape! [nyeh nyeh nyeh *evil laughter*]


Muffin: Bah! That stripey lardball thinks he can throw his weight around and lord over us when the Pigs are away. He shall have a taste of the Groucho Deadly Bite!


Milo: Ehn? I am just minding my own business ...

Cat Physics:
First Law of Energy Conservation - Cats know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and will, therefore, use as little energy as possible.

5,012

That's the number of cats "humanely destroyed" by the SPCA Singapore in its last FY ending 30 June 06.

Its latest annual report came through the post today, and here are some grim statistics on cats:

No. brought in: 5,568
No. of adoptions: 358
No. claimed/rehomed/released: 138
No. in shelter: 60
No. humanely destroyed: 5,012

90% of the cats brought in to the SPCA are humanely destroyed (I love euphemisms!).

Why? Because SPCA does not have the space nor financial resources to keep all 5,568 of them in the shelter.

Why were these 5,568 cats brought to the SPCA then? Because some of us humans have deemed that cats cannot and should not co-exist with us in our clean, modern urban dwellings. Ergo, these cats are condemned and kaput!

Of course, some of the 5,012 cats HAVE to be put to sleep because they were victims of OUR abuse, and letting them go is the solution to their physical and emotional suffering.

But what about the rest?

Finishing them off with a lethal jab is, of course, the easiest way out to the "overcrowding" situation. But is it really humane? From whose perspective is it humane anyway? When did they become lesser beings?

Indeed, if you look at it from a certain perspective, dying seems to be far better off than living life as a community cat - running away from nasty children, watching out for cruel abusers, suffering from constant hunger and cold, and living in perpetual fear of pest controllers.

What bothers me is this: Why can't we accept these animals on their own terms? Why don't we learn to tolerate them? Afterall, we don't go around rounding up people whom we dislike and finish them off with a gun, do we? (Unless, of course, you are from the mafia.)

I know putting animals to sleep is a nasty job which the SPCA had to do. Because WE allow it to happen. And which is why I have decided NOT to donate to the SPCA. I know it also needs funds for public education and outreach activities and sterilisation of strays etc. SPCA has done a decent job in raising awareness of animal welfare and deserves a pat on the back. But I cannot sign on the dotted line, knowing that part of my donation would go towards the killing of 5,012 cats.

I think my money would be better used in sterilising the community cats in my neighbourhood and allowing them the chance to live out its life as a fellow being.


Kootoo - one of the lucky few put up for adoption at the SPCA in May 2005.