Pity the strays, Malaysia

I first encountered Bravia, a stray kitten when I visited my mother in Kota Bharu in Malaysia in October 2012. She had fallen into a deep drain and was trying to clamber out, so I picked her up, and tried to wash her. Oh, she was feisty! stretching out her legs and using her claws to hold on to the metal gate nearby. I was immediately captivated not only by her beauty, but by her gutsiness and braveness. That was why I gave her the name of Bravia. She was always there at the back of the house with another Siamese cat with blue eyes, which I named Kao ( a Thai name, meaning white, because of his white fur). During my week's stay there each time, they would enjoy feasts of cooked fish, deboned, as I was so afraid they would choke on the bones (my own fears translated on to them!). 

This trip home in June to see my mother, Bravia was still there at the back of the house, together with Kao. I was worried as she was getting bigger and may soon reach sexual maturity. From what I have learned from many cat lovers, the compassionate way is to spay them, so that the population of stray cats will not increase. I cannot imagine Bravia having litters in a harsh environment, with no home and no guarantee of food. Their chances of survival would be very slim. Why let them suffer? 

It was then that I took the decision to have her spayed. I contacted a local Vet and made an appointment. Naive as I was, I took Bravia and put her in an open basket. She allowed me to pick her up ( I'm sure her she recognized me as her food provider!). She was calm when I carried the basket up, but when my brother slide open the house gate, the screeching noise frightened her and she jumped up to escape. What followed was chaos and confusion as Bravia ran out of the house; my brother trying to catch her back; and my mother's care- giver, Etti screaming "so much blood!". In her natural instinct to escape, Bravia had scratched my chin and neck and blood was streaking down my blouse. I had to go and see a local GP who cleaned up the wound and gave me an anti-Tetanus injection. Thank goodness there was no need for any stitches!

Unperturbed, I went to the Vet, borrowed a proper pet basket and eventually got Bravia safely to the clinic. To think that when I opened the back door to get her again, she was there meowing, as though nothing had happened! 

Little Bravia after her surgery

After the surgery, the Vet lent us a good size cage to contain Bravia for a few days for us to nurse her and ensure that her wound would heal well. I had to return to Singapore by then; and enlisted my brothers and Etti's help. You can imagine the number of phone calls I made to my family to follow-up on Bravia's recovery! By the fifth day, with her wound healed and her feistiness returned, my brother released her, and Kao was there waiting for her. He had missed her and had refused to eat in the few days that Bravia was in our care! 

I wish Bravia and Kao well. It's so sad to see stray cats and dogs without love, care and a home. The least we can do is to respect them and their space. I have read in the papers of cases where people abuse, hurt and even kill these vulnerable, homeless animals. These are selfish people who lack compassion, and are perhaps loveless themselves. They fail to learn that all beings are the creation of God, for a reason. For those who have, and care for pets like dogs and cats, the lessons they learn of love, sacrifice, responsibility and patience are invaluable. 


                            Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man.
                            Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, 
                            Just as one wants to live and not to die,
                             So do other creatures.

-Dalai Lama-

                                                
                                                                                                    

 The gentle and beautiful Kao