Clubpets Q&A on cats

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

Excerpts from Clubpets (Issue 23, Mar to May 07):


Q: Do cats always bury their waste?

A: A subordinate cat will bury its faeces so as not to demonstrate its presence to more dominant cats. A dominant cat will leave its faeces uncovered. A cat kept on its own will bury its faeces by scratching on the litter tray. This has nothing to do with cleanliness - it is a sign that the cat feel that its owner is dominant. In households with more than one cat, you will often find that one or two cats leave their faeces uncovered, whereas the rest will cover it up.


Talk to the paw.

[Mama Piggy: Alrighty Kootoo Monster, you are pardoned. But can I tell you it is really not a pleasant sight to see you display your poop in the litter bin as though it's icing on the cake???]


Q: Do cats really sulk?

A: When you scold your cat, do you feel that he's rebuffing you or sulking by turning away? The real reason behind this is that humans are huge to a cat. When you scold him, you are intimidating him. And when you look down upon a cat to discipline him, he associates your fixed gaze with a rival. The eyes of many animals are a signal of power. In comparison to a cat's size, his eyes are enormous. In hostile situations, a dominant cat will stare at his rival, who will look away rather than increase the hostility. So when your cat turns away after disciplining, he isn't sulking; he's surrendering!


Of course I am not sulking, woman! I am not ignoring you either, you 're just insignificant! Oh wicked me!

[Mama Piggy: Hmmph, then Muffin does a mean surrendering. Have a nagging suspicion that even while they appear to be "surrendering", the KMM crew are still "buay song" (sullen) after we chide them for some misdeeds]


Q: Why do cats suddenly take off at 90 miles an hour?

A: This behaviour is seen mostly in indoor cats who are not able to burn off energy. They will dash around jumping off furniture with a wild look in their eyes. This usually occurs late at night with cats younger than five years old, but can be seen in older cats as well.



Energy conservation in progress, DO NOT DISTURB!

[Mama Piggy: I swear the House of Pigs keep flying lemurs instead of cats. Try sleeping less in the day, busters. Helping me with the housework when I am away at work would be much appreciated.]

China pixs

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



In my humble opinion, the West Lake in Hangzhou is over-rated. Maybe the Spring-time crowd there got to me, I didn't find West Lake especially enchanting.

Shanghai zaps me with its fast-paced mode and horrendous traffic, but at the same time it perks me up with its dynamism and energy.

I look forward to the day when I can cross the roads safely, without cars and motorbikes ramming into me even though it is MY right of way.

We're back ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

... and the heat and humidity in Singapore is almost unbearable.

Gimme the cool, crisp air of Shanghai anytime!

I will even put up with the chaotic traffic, rude drivers (especially the driver of a black Audi who nearly ran over me!) and funny English.



More pictures to come.

Out of sight ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

... but not out of mind!

We're heading to Hangzhou and Shanghai, China on a red-eye flight tonight, and will be back on next Tuesday the 24th.

My sister will be catsitting the KMM crew.






Behave, kitties!

Update on Twinkle

From the desk of Mama Piggy:


Poor Twinkle has been keeping Phyllis very busy the past couple of weeks with his diarrhoea.

After several vet visits, it is now confirmed that the little fella is down with some kind of poisoning, the cause of which might be attributed to the fumigation at the rubbish dump where he was found.

It breaks our hearts to see him suffering. We can't wait to see this manja purring machine back in the pink of health!

Some random pictures taken at the cattery today:


Timmy old boy with Papa Porky.


Senor Achiwawa having a tete-a-tete with Sunshine.


Poser at Cattery 1.

Lessons from my cats

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

I think we have a lot to learn from cats.

Muffin has taught me that an abused animal can learn to love and trust again, so why can't "normal" human beings unlearn their "hatred", and learn to accept and tolerate harmless community cats in their midst?

Milo showed us in this video that we should learn to make hay while the sun shines and enjoy simple joys in life :)

One Year On

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

It's been exactly one year since Muffin joined the family!

13 April 2006

7 April 2007

Muffy never cease to surprise us with his sweet gestures and manja moments, especially when he approaches us for scritches and chin rubs. He likes to bid Papa Porky goodbye in the morning by doing figure-of-eights around his ankles (and leaving him with patches of white fur on his trousers).

Oh, did I mention that he always come and sit next to me when I call his name?

We love this boy.

Milo Copperfield

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

Look Ma, no(body)!

You are never too young for ...

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

... a slipped disc.

Yep, I have been rendered somewhat non-ambulant due to a "partial" slipped disc. It happened out of the blue this morning. After my morning coffee, I sort of sprang up from the sofa to walk to the kitchen to wash up.
I didn't sense anything wrong while walking to the kitchen, although the back felt a bit stiff. It was only when I tried leaning my body forward while washing the mug when a piercing pain shot through my lower back.

To cut a long story short, I still went to the office to get some work cleared, saw a doctor, and was given two days' medical leave and some very strong painkillers and muscle relaxant.

Being healthy and illness-free is a blessing which many of us take for granted, until the moment we are rendered immobile or weak by sickness.


I wonder if cats suffer from slipped disc problems too?

The Weekender

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



Gosh, the long weekend was over in a flash!

We need more three-day breaks!

Remembrance

From the desk of Mama Piggy:


The monastery's version of the garden gnome :)

We went to the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery columbarium today to pay respects to my late father.

I didn't bring any fruits, flowers nor a trunkful of paper money. There was no need to, I feel. I have come to my father with a true heart that remembers his love for us.

And when I die, there would be no need to keep my remains in an urn. My ashes will be scattered in the sea, I will live in the hearts of those I love.

Morning Glory

From the desk of Mama Piggy:



Milo basking in the full glory of the morning sun :)

Be kind

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

According to the latest issue of the SPCA Bulletin (Feb/Mar 07 ), there was a 25 per cent spike in the number of alleged animal abuse cases investigated by the SPCA in 2006. In absolute terms, the SPCA handled 916 such cases last year.

Some highlighted cases include:
- A Maltese dog thrown to its death from the 22nd storey of a Fernvale Road flat
- A two and a half month old kitten beaten by a man with a wooden pole
- Two stray dogs poisoned with insecticide
- Stray cat kicked by teen

Of course, it is possible that an increased awareness of animal welfare has led to more abuse cases being reported, instead of a real increase in animal abuse.

But whenever I come across such news, I can't help but feel that it is such a sick world we are living in. We do not even have the basic respect for life. Then again, when even domestic maids are treated like animals and denied proper food and rest, what do you expect our fellow Singaporeans to feel toward stray cats and unwanted dogs?

Will animal abuse ever be eradicated? I hope to live to see that day!

As HH The Dalai Lama said: "If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them."

I think the "others" include the animals that live among us too.

How do you know if your cat loves you?

From the desk of Mama Piggy:

Of course my cat lurrrves me, silly!!!

My cat shows his affection for me by sleeping on my leg ...

... using my foot as a pillow.

This effectively prevents me from getting up to do all those dreadful housework.

So you see, my cat lurrrrves me!