Meet Poppy!

For those who have followed my blog long enough, you'd know that I once had a pet cat named Cookie and was heartbroken when he died...vowing that he'd be my first....and last pet.

Since then I didn't want any permanent pet but had a series of part-time pets, notably strays in Gone Girl, a ginger male cat, a grey/white cat and all other cats who have come my way since...but they all disappeared and left.  Perhaps I was destined to not have any pets, part-time or otherwise! :'(  

Even a little frog that strayed into my porch ended up leaving...lol!  It was here for a good 4 weeks, believe it or not.  It would hide in a certain corner in my porch and when I sprayed/washed my porch I made sure I didn't flush it down the drain...hah..hah.  But one day, it too upped and left.  P.S.: But just a few days ago, I saw a larger-sized frog in my porch and wonder if the same frog (which grew in size) came to visit! ;D

In truth, of all the colours in a cat, I've always had the softest spot for a pure white cat.  I've always regretted not taking in an almost white stray (with blue eyes) in the past but that was when I had Cookie.  So, when a pure white kitten (also with the most beautiful blue eyes) was presented to me recently, I couldn't...and wasn't going to say no to my dream cat.  Yes, I've decided to open my heart to another cat.  So, say hello to Poppy, the latest addition to the family! ;)  But it was touch-and-go for a while.  Well, here's the story.........

This is yet another stray cat that strayed into my arms.  But it didn't find its way into my porch...it found its way into my sister-in-law's porch...lol!  And my sister-in-law knowing how much I adore cats approached me to see if I wanted it.  She sent me some photos...and there was no going back after that aww moment! ^.^  How can you not fall in love with such a pretty little thing?  All white and pure...so cute and sweet!

The stray kitten has been hanging around her porch for days (wanting to go into the house), so it was pretty easy to catch.  She loaded it into her car and sent it to my place.  At first look, I think it's a "she".  I sent her to the groomers the next day and they confirmed that it's female...yay!  She was quite a skinny little kitten when she came (in early March 2025) but looked much better after she got cleaned up.

She's all sweet smelling and fluffy after her bath.  Immediately I could tell she's quite the affectionate cat as she likes to plonk herself on some part of my body (when I'm seated on the floor or the sofa).  She doesn't seem to have that fear and aggressiveness of a cat born on the streets (she can't be a thrown away cat coz my sister-in-law said she had seen her with other kittens, probably her siblings).

Two weeks later, she made her first visit to the vet (to get deflead, dewormed and vaccinated)...and that was when her name was picked too.  The vet told me that she's between 6 months to a year old.  Therefore, on her medical card, her unofficial birth date is listed as September 2024.

Less than two weeks later, she was at the vet again, this time to get neutered.  I wasn't planning to neuter her so early (as she still looked like a kitten) but a male cat has been "disturbing" her + she also started to show signs of being on heat.  But unlike my other two part-time female cats who would display signs of being on heat by rubbing themselves on the floor (and on the street) + walking with a raised butt, this little kitty instead was meowing loudly for days on end (she was so vocal that I think the neighbours could hear her from afar).  When I googled, I realised that this was also one of the ways female cats let the male cats know by calling out to them that she's ready to mate.  Her incessant howling drove me nuts (I thought I got a cat with anxiety issues!).  Luckily, the vet confirmed that she was on heat and I ended up paying RM150 + RM20 (extra) for her neutering.

I was also just trying to delay her neutering for fear that she'll end up being kidnapped catnapped like my other two previous part-time cats right after they've been neutered.  But it's something I can't avoid forever as I live with some unscrupulous neighbours...but I took extra precaution this time for my son said let's not let her out outside until her belly hair grows back (hopefully, this can mask the fact that she's been neutered).

Now back to the story of why I said it was touch-and-go for a moment.  You see, I had a bad flare up of my asthma recently which coincided with her adoption.  I experienced wheezing and shortness of breath for 4 nights and had to rely on medication to open up the airways.  I'm not sure if it was really due to the cat or some other allergy that triggered it.

I had my first bad attack of asthma when I returned from a month-long holiday to the (west coast of) United States (that included Hawaii), Mexico, Canada & Japan...and another time when I came back from Hongkong & Macau.  They say changes in weather can be a trigger (that's why I don't travel anymore).  But that was so long ago and I've not had a bad flare up for many years.  Occasionally, I may experience a mild episode when I've a cough or some inflammation in my throat but other than that, I live an asthma-free life.  So, I don't know what brought this on.  I've had Cookie for 9+ years and I was alright.  I believe getting Covid 3 years ago (from my husband) may have triggered it again as I had a severe flare up when I got Covid.

My doctor advised me to give up the cat (he was not the only doctor who had said so over the years) but I can't find it in my heart to give her up after I've taken her in.  One look at those mesmerising blue eyes and it'll melt any heart.  I'd try anything rather than give her up.  If I've to limit her time running free in the house, be careful that she doesn't cozy up to me too much, wash my hands after I've touched/patted her, wear a mask if I have to when carrying her, confine her to her cage (I intend to get a larger, multi-storey one) for more hours...I'm willing to try anything if it means keeping her.  Glad to report that I've not had another episode since.  Maybe she wasn't even the cause to start with and I had some throat inflammation or something.

I gave her time to familiarise herself with the smell of her surroundings (for about 3 weeks) so that she knows where home is.  The first time I let her out of the house, I was in for a shock!  I would check on her periodically for the first 2 hours to ensure she's still in the vicinity.  But when I called out to her at lunch time, she didn't come back for her feed.  I walked around my neighbourhood (twice) to look for her but she was no where to be seen.  By 4 pm, I took a drive around my neighbourhood to see if she had wandered further off but couldn't find her.  In my heart, I thought I've lost her forever (and tears flowed that I lost her so soon).

Came 5 pm, I opened my doors to collect my clothes (that were hung out to dry) and, to my delight, she was sitting right outside the door! O_o  She missed her lunch feed coz she was probably too busy exploring the surroundings and came back only when she was hungry.  I'm happy that I can now let her outside and know that she knows where home is (though I've not let her out since).

What did I say before...when one door closes, another one opens....and that's so true!  She's set to become a permanent feature in my home...and I hope she doesn't get catnapped like the rest before her!  The only thing I can do is to limit her time outdoors.  If I've to confine her indoors or in her cage for more hours, so be it...if that's the only way to keep her safe.  I leave it to fate for whatever will be, will be.....but for now, I'll just enjoy the company of my precious little princess with the most beautiful blue eyes! ;)

P.S: She's rather skinny and isn't the prettiest looking kitten for now as she's been with me for less than 2 months.  Wait till I fatten her up with good food and loving care...lol! ^_~