Feeding stray cats at Yannawa Temple as a habit.

As soon as I could I would travel to Yannawa temple to feed those twenty stray cats. I knew they must be waiting for me the whole week wondering why I had disappeared for several days. Luckily there would be the skinny monk and the kind biker who would feed these stray cats. Though these cats could never have the best cat food money could buy, they had the sustenance for their survival. If I could afford the pricey wet food, I would have given them lots of expensive wet food.

I was glad to see these cats being fed by the kind biker as I parked my car. I wished he could have come more often with fried fish and chicken for these cats. I knew I had to wait for him to finish feeding these cats before I could lay out my dishes of cat food. Some days he didn’t have enough food for all the cats as some cats arrived there rather late. So, I had to feed the hungry cats while others just sniffed around and had a rest.

These stray cats have become very friendly towards me and they trusted me enough to let me carry them around when I needed to get them far away from approaching cars. The temple staff told me some cats were hit by visitors’ cars in the past year. Some drivers thanked me for getting cats out of their way. I have noticed some regular cats have been missing this past month. A young monk who used to feed two stray cats by the river told me he missed the beautiful white cat with two dots on his back. I knew that one very well; I still couldn’t find out where he’s gone.

It hurt my feeling every time some friendly cats went missing. I looked around and searched for them while shouting out their names. All the monks and staff had gotten used to my crazy manners and focus on temple cats; so I hardly had any time to talk to monks. If they showed compassion to stray cats, I would be glad to talk to them. Some people just wouldn’t like to have stray cats in the temple at all, as they were thought to make the place dirty. Luckily a skinny monk continued to feed and shelter these cats in his building. I sometimes left canned cat food on the steps of his lodging as supplements for cats.

Last time I met him cleaning up the stairs so I offered a box of wet food for his cats. He was quite surprised and pleased to get a whole box of wet food. I did talk to the delivery man and found out that the skinny monk would order a few sachets of wet food from time to time as these were rather expensive. So, he was smiling after getting the whole box and he was talking to some small kittens about having some treat. I did send some photos to my old friend who donated some money for buying cat food. She was very pleased to see photos of these cats and the skinny monk with donated cat food. It’s all for doing good karma according to Buddhist teaching.

My mind continued to hover over the few missing cats who were my close friends at the temple. These cats could understand my language and gestures. They were even obedient when I told them not to hurt the poor newly abandonment cats. Some people came at night to leave their pet cats and kittens at the temple. These cats were in shock and cried out in hurtful feeling; their cries were like small children’ crying out as they couldn’t understand why their owners left them behind among strangers.

Lately, a young kitten was left at the temple and I tried to befriend him. He would come out to get some food as soon as I called him; but he wouldn’t let me touch him. He’s still hissing at me every time. He’s still looking very clean and fat, but soon his fur will get dirty and he would become much thinner. The first cat I befriended was a lovely pet cat abandoned by his owner by the riverfront. A young man selling bread for feeding fish at the pier asked me to feed this cat several months ago.

He was fat and puffy with white fur and some black dots. He couldn’t get along with older temple cats so he’s alone by himself under the big tree and slept under parked cars by the riverfront. I called him Spotty as he’s so friendly and gentle, which told me that he was in a good family before, he’s a lovely cat. He has become one my favourite cats at the temple as he’s such good manner and warm personality.

Nowadays Spotty has lost about three kilos and his white fur has become quite dirty. He lived too far away from the skinny monk’s lodging so he didn’t get fed regularly. An elderly lady came to feed three cats by the riverfront regularly, but I didn’t see her for quite a while these days. I just hoped she didn’t get sick because of adverse effects of the jabs. So many people (who had three jabs) I used to see have slowly disappeared from familiar places.

I continue to do what I could under limited resources and time. I just hope that there won’t be any drastic event like a global war or a new plandemic to obstruct my travel routine to the temple. So far, the supply chain in our country and the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables are quite satisfactory. When the cost of gas has been lowered, people would have more spending power. Then I would be able to buy more wet food in bulk to save some money. Meanwhile I remind myself to count my blessings and soldier on with my daily tasks. Living in the present and feeding stray cats have made my life much more meaningful and cheerful. It gave me very good vibes always.

Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.

Stay strong and cheerful.