Happy Caturday: Joan dropped by to be with us for two days as the neighbour was away.

Recently Joan, or orange cat that had migrated to my neighbour’s house for almost a year, has stay to drop by to see us and spend a few days before disappearing again. My gardener told me that whenever our neighbour was away to the big city (Udon province), Joan would come for his food in the kitchen. Kwan was always very happy to see her big brother. She still meowed around the garden looking for Joan. She was lonely on her own sometimes. I was hoping she would soon get used to being the only cat in the house.

Kwan always complained loudly in her own language to express her sadness and loneliness of being alone. The gardener didn’t know how to treat cats with affection as she preferred dogs. Her loud voice tended to frighten Kwan and she preferred to keep to herself. Kwan seemed to have a secret hiding place where she went for her long nap whenever I was absence. Kwan was easily attracted by birds and small reptiles in the garden. I was glad that she still maintained her instinct and wild nature.

She always stayed close to me whenever I was around the house. She would sleep on her basket on the table or on the cool floor of the shrine room. The way she slept told me that she felt very secured and care free inside the house. I loved to see Kwan sleeping deeply and couldn’t help wishing I could sleep so soundly. Her postures of sleeping could be quite funny and entertaining to watch.

I could get Joan to sleep on the same table as Kwan. Joan had changed a lot; he has become very independent and less attached to his sister. Luckily Joan still behaved affectionately towards me and liked to sleep on my bed. He liked to sleep in a very quiet place with dim light. Kwan didn’t mind the noises I made in the sitting room as she could sleep very deeply. I was afraid I could no longer expect both Kwan and Joan to cuddle together in the same basket like in the past. I would have to see how they would behave this winter as it was supposed to be a cold winter.

Kwan still suffered from her
loss of control of her bowel or her kidneys. It was due to a falling accident in narrow space so she couldn’t turn her body at the correct angle. I had ordered several waterproof sheets for Kwan so her sleeping spot wouldn’t be wet by her leaking. Kwan often wondered why her tail and legs were all wet after her long nap. I had been mopping up the floor and changing the bed sheets for her. They didn’t get dry easily in rainy weather. So, I had to ordered special absorbent papers and water proof sheets for her. I was still learning which products worked out best for my purpose.

Joan was keeping himself some distance from Kwan. But Kwan would always try to sit near her brother. She would let me force fed her medicine without any resistance. On the other hand, Joan would protest and use force to get free from my grip. Kwan was very tame and trusting towards me. I thought she felt I was her only family member in the house whom she could rely on whenever she was sick. I would give her medicine at intervals and checked for her reactions. She always recovered from flu and fever within a day.

I have been looking at kittens around the village but they seemed to have disappear altogether. I wondered why all the cats and kittens were gone. We used to see several cats and kittens around the fishermen’s huts. I even spotted a beautiful Persian cat near the fish farm by the river. I hoped one day two nice kittens would drop by my house to play with Kwan and decided to stay. My gardener wouldn’t like to look after more cats. But we used to have six cats! The house was full of fun and activities then, those kittens kept playing and running around the house. I hoped the land spirit would choose the right kittens for us at the right time.

Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.

Stay strong and cheerful.