It's Hard to Say GoodBye!

Kenggy became weaker but she managed to maneuvre herself to face the MeowRoom door. Our human placed a rolled-up cloth to support her head to ease her shallow breathing.

Her best friend, Winnie, came to keep her company, both staring at each in a silent communication.

Soon after Kenggy passed away on 10th June 2014. She was cremated.

Before our human could finish clearing the special 'Meow Suite', Pebble got seriously ill. Pebble's sickness was a constant yo-yo.

To replenish her medication, our human made an appointment with Pebble's doctor to pick it up the next day. Early next morning, on 25th January 2016, Pebble was found in a rigor mortis mode and a phone call was quickly made to her vet to cancel her medication.

Here Tanya, Winnie and Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK were telling EJ that they have finished saying their last goodbye. Just like the rest before her, Pebble was cremated.

It was when her ash came home that it hit EJ that both, Kenggy's and Pebble's, absence was really felt.

Yes, that 'Meow Suite' was dismantled and cleaned but EJ somehow could not clear many of their things. Perhaps our human need a little more time to heal emotionally.

She Cannot Walk

Kenggy could not move her swollen limb. She moves only when necessary by dragging her lifeless swollen pawless left forelimb. 

In spite of this, she observe her cleanliness and does her toilet in the tray without any spillage.

She has to eat lying down like this. 

Her appetite is gradually getting less and is getting weaker.

Sleeping on Her Back

She does not rest or sleep like a normal cat anymore. She sleeps on her back belly up.

The numerous growths richly supplied with fragile arteries (that could burst and bleed anytime) on her chest forced her to rest in this position.

These growths has spread to her left forelimb causing it to swell more than double its size.

Kenggy moves much slower now and walking has become more laborious. Being such a fastidious cat, she still grooms though there are many areas she could not reach. So EJ helps out in cleaning using a damp cotton wool. 

And Kenggy would purr and purr...loudly.

Still The Favourite Toy

These days Kenggy does not move much; more cancer growths has developed and advancing up the chest towards her left pawless forelimb.

She still plays with her favourite old battered much-loved toy.

Kenggy eyeing her tattered hedgehog.

"I've got it under my (invisible) paw...

...but I love my human more!" says Kenggy as she abandoned her toy and struggled to move towards EJ.

PS: Though EJ cleans Kenggy's wounds twice daily, Kenggy goes to her vet for check-up and thorough cleaning fortnightly.

Permitted Stealing?

Due to Kenggy's limited time, she is always given everything extra, treats and petting. The rest of the gang get a little less.

Winnie eyeing in full concentration at Kenggy's chicken treats in the dish which could not be finished at one go...

...and decided to 'steal' right under Kenggy's nose!

Guess Kenggy allowed it as Winnie entertains her by pawing her tail. 

This is the only way they could play as Kenggy could no longer run, jump or play like normal cats do.

New Bed for Kenggy

EJ has been wondering why Kenggy do not climb up to sleep or rest on the soft bed in her personal suite. She always sleep on the tiled floor.

One day Kenggy somehow hobbled out of her personal suite, stood and stared at the stairs. It was then it dawned on EJ that Kenggy could no longer climb up or down. Probably her cancer growth wound hurt too much to do so.

EJ went on a hunt again, this time for an old pair of shorts and some thin sponges to put together a new bed for Kenggy.

When presented to her, Kenggy sniffed and sniffed and then plop down. Since then, she uses the new bed all the time.

Kenggy's Cancer Update

Her daily bleeding for 50 days worries EJ.

EJ took Kenggy to the vet yesterday. 

Kenggy was a good girl during examination. She laid still on her back fully exposing her belly to be shaved for easier cleaning and dressing.

The picture below may be unpleasant to some viewers. It shows the before and after cleaning. (The picture is purposedly not enhanced and made smaller.)

Her cancer is ferocious. Another small bleeding lump appeared above this main one which may not be seen here. A big lump could be felt higher up near the 'armpit'. Though Kenggy is eating normal, she lost weight.

EJ will continue the daily cleaning and dressing. Kenggy is also given iron and folic acid supplements for her anemia.

We thank all for sending so many purrs, wishes and prayers.

Kenggy use Underpads

Our human was shocked to see the amount of blood, foul-smelling pus and fluid on Kenggy's home-made singlet and decided that something had to be done.

Well, to be honest, EJ did think about using sanitary pad but decided against it as the size do not match.

The first pad EJ made was using plastic sheet, gauze and cotton wool sewn on to Kenggy' singlet.

It worked well but was a tad bulky and thought perhaps underpads or disposable bed pads cut to size may work. And so the cutting and sewing began. 

It worked extremely well. Here is how it looks.

The blue arrow shows the corner of the pad peeking out of Kenggy's singlet.

We thank all you friends wishing Kenggy well and may not be able to visit as often as we wish. Our human has to keep on cutting and sewing more pads and singlets.

Keeping Tabs on Pebble and Kenggy

Pebble had an evaluation check-up last week and received another steroid injection for her oral problems. She seems well and eating but the weigh-in showed she did not gain weight as expected.

Her vet advised EJ to monitor Pebble closely including her urine output.

Kenggy has accepted wearing clothes, so there are no more horrifying blood smears on the floor. Kenggy's singlet do have some fluid stains.

EJ is happy and now has a new hobby sort of – making pet singlets out of old T-shirts.

Singlet for Kenggy

When Kenggy's bleeding lump dried-up, EJ was happy and thought that things would go well. 

Kenggy started bleeding again...from the same lump. This made EJ think hard on what best to do and thought that perhaps pet clothes may help. EJ remembered that 10 years ago, mom sewn two small singlets out of EJ's old cotton T-shirt for the late Tommy.

It kicked off a frenzied search and found it.

Washed and sun-dried, EJ put it on Kenggy who protested a bit.

She looks like a piglet here.

Kenggy giving her unapproving annoyed look.

Noticing that it was a tad tight around Kenggy's fat belly perhaps making her uncomfortable, EJ folded the bottom of the singlet higher up to Kenggy's chest.

It did the trick. Kenggy seemed happier and slept. Can you see the wound fluid stain on the singlet?

EJ will wait a few more days to see whether it is helping. After wearing the singlet, Kenggy joins her roommates during the day and back to her personal suite at night.

Seeing Red on Lunar New Year Day 2014

Pebble had oral problems. She had it before in 2012.

Two weeks ago, not wanting Pebble to be stressed, EJ drove alone to the vet and got a week's supply of antibiotics pills.

When Pebble did not recover after finishing that course of antibiotics, she had to be seen by her doctor, a day before the clinic close for Lunar New Year. She was given a steroid injection and a different liquid antibiotics.

Traffic was really bad going to and back from the clinic. Perhaps it was the New Year shopping. 

Somehow EJ finds pilling the cat much easier than giving liquid antibiotics with a syringe. Pebble kept spitting it out shaking her head sideways. The injection was effective and Pebble is recovering well and eating properly. Luckily there is no medication for Kenggy right now.

Kenggy drools in her sleep and EJ changed her bedding cover using an old T-shirt. 

Just as EJ was about to eat dinner, Kenggy called. And as usual, EJ would drop everything and check on Kenggy.

EJ saw red!

On Lunar New Year day, red is associated with luck, prosperity and believed to ward away evil. It is a traditionally symbolic colour of happiness.

But EJ was horrified to see this red! The soiled floor was quickly cleaned up and then lined with paper.

One of the lumps was bleeding. EJ gently cleaned the wound.

Pet pad has now replaced that soiled T-shirt cover on Kenggy's bed.

These three busybodies (Tanya, Pebble and Captain Jack; guess there's no space for Winnie) lined up to check out what the commotion was about.

Extra Love for Kenggy

Like all her roommates, Kenggy sleeps like this in the MeowYard.

Lately she prefers to sleep in corners.

Last Saturday night she kept growling at her roommates who approached or walked near her. It went on for quite a while. Couldn't take it any longer though rather late into the night, EJ quickly set up Kenggy's private suite and placed her there. 

She was happy; she stretched out, wriggled on her back and cleaned herself.

Early yesterday morning, Sunday, EJ drove to the clinic to discuss about Kenggy's numerous growing lumps. It was concluded that another operation would put her life in jeopardy.

The best thing to do for Kenggy now is to give her extra love and make her happy.

Kenggy's personal suite is exactly the same as the one she used after her operation. You can view it here.

2014 New Year Gift – If You Can't Drill It, Screw It !

It was noticed that lately Kenggy has not been up on the Chair, table or shelf. Her waddling seems to be slower and hobbling more pronounced.

EJ decided to make a ramp to help Kenggy move to higher grounds. An old 1 foot by 6½ foot plank was used as it makes a gentler slope.

Initial plan was to drill a hole on both ends of the plank to secure the wrap-around hemp rope. But since EJ could not get hold of a drill, screws were used instead.

Rope wrapping took a long time. The plank was heavy. EJ had to use all four limps to repeatedly carry and turn the plank while keeping the rope as taut as possible. (Please don't mind EJ's foot on the plank.) While working, EJ kept telling Kenggy, 'This is for you, Kenggy'. Kenggy watched to the whole while; other kitties came, looked and left.

The completed hemp-ramp was placed in the MeowRoom with one end on the floor against the corner while the other end rested on the upper shelf on the opposite side; midway of the ramp is the same height as the Chair and table.

EJ wanted Kenggy to be the first to use the ramp and placed Kenggy at the bottom. Nosy Captain Jack wanted to use it too.

Very soon, all the kitties came, tested and used it as a giant scratch post.

Winnie sniffed the ramp.

The ramp warped when fat Tanya walked on it.

Pebble stopped by the Chair and table midway.

Both Captain Jack and Tanya liked it enough to nap on the ramp. The creaking noise of the MeowRoom door woke them up before these pictures could be taken.

From the bottom of her little heart, Kenggy thank Crumpet, Maneki and their human for donating 2 giant rolls of hemp rope for without it, this hemp-ramp would not be possible.

We wish all a     HAPPY NEW YEAR 

full of     Success, Courage and Prosperity.

PS: Numerous lumps could now be felt on Kenggy's chest.

Christmas 2013

Kenggy, on behalf of her roommates (Tanya, Pebble, Winnie, Captain Jack Sparrow HAWK) and human, wish all bipeds, 'tri-peds', quadrupeds, multi-legged creatures included 

a Joyous Holiday filled with Peace,

Love, and Prosperity

One Fang Still Good!

Snapping photos of cats can be a daunting task at times.

Before EJ could sit comfortably on the floor to try to snap a photo of any cat in the MeowYard, inquisitive Kenggy waddled near.

The compact camera wrist strap was dangling.

Standing upright using both her stumps, Kenggy caught the strap unceremoniously and stuff it in her mouth.

You may ask why was EJ slow in preventing it? Well, EJ was off-balanced though seated and Kenggy placed both her stumps on EJ. Her stumps are just skin covering bones. It hurt and EJ dared not move for fear that Kenggy may fall. 

Slowly, very slowly the strap was removed. Tanya came to check out what the commotion was about. That marked the end of photo session for the day. 

EJ was tired out.

The Matriarch!

Living together harmoniously in the same house, our human put importance on warmth and love, give and take, at rest, in play as well as meal times.

For breakfast, each cat has their own share of kibbles in their own bowls. 'Tea' is wet food, either chicken or fish, in the evening, also in their own bowls. 

A short while later would be dinner. Dinner is different. The cats share eating out from two bowls, at times from one bowl. From this, they learn patience and tolerance.

The hierarchical structure here is noticeable. The oldest, Tanya, the matriarch, eats first while the rest wait patiently for their turn.

And EJ loves them all for their patience, tolerance and love.

A Lost Fang?

Few days ago, EJ found this fang in one of the cubicles of the kitty condo and wondered who the owner was. It could be anyone as all the kitties are seniors and have weak gums.

So EJ went on a hunt, crawling on the ground peering into their mouths. It was no easy task as you get jumped or sat on, even wrestled.

It belonged to Kenggy. It was weird that Kenggy did not show any signs of refusing to eat. She was and is still as greedy gobbling her food.

Without both front paws and claws, EJ shudder to think if Kenggy were still a stray outdoors. She would never survive now that she lost her final weapon of defense.

Our human is happy that Kenggy and all her roommates are always indoors and never allowed out of the house.

How did that fang get loose? EJ suspects that it is because Kenggy constantly use her nose and mouth to help support her bad landing due to her two pawless and shortened front limbs.