LOS TEROPONG: Blinkey (2007-2008)

These shots were taken on the 14 Nov. 2007. Blinkey had such a good appetite that in no time it had a bulging tummy. We were puzzled that it was constantly eating and finishing the food supply pretty quickly. A visit to the pet shop for more food revealed that it was worms. So we had to deworm Blinkey and we threw in a bottle of shampoo as well.

Things were getting serious, the cat was getting groomed as well, with body brush and shampoo and all.... However, Blinkey comes and goes as it pleases, never requiring an overdose of love or extra patting. A moment in your arms is all that is needed and off it goes. Its' favourite place is on the rug right at the back door. It will be curled up right there in various positions only a cat can muster. As a natural course of a cat's life, the call to mate was ceremoniously trumpetted by the appearance of several male cats. Dang, where did they come from ... not seen them before except one hanging around for some time. Still, the pursuit came to fruition when Blinkey became pregnant. At that time, we could only presume that Blinkey was around 6-7 months old (which would be about right) as physically, many cats are able to get pregnant when they are only six or seven months old [1]. Unfortunately, Blinkey's maternal term did not progress well and the pregnancy did not take its full course. We can only presume (again) that it miscarried as it gave birth to four still-born kittens in the first week of May.. A cat is pregnant for about 65 days, so naturally, this was not the case.

Then, in a blink, Blinkey died on the morning of the 21st of May 2008. I last saw a healthy Blinkey sleeping under the kiddy trampoline on the porch on the morning of 18 May. It was nowhere to be seen on the 19th, not even for food. Then, on the 20th of May, the maid found Blinkey just outside the house, on the pavement, bleeding from the rear end, so to speak. Blinkey was cleaned but looked weak and had no appetite for food, but instead retreated to rest in the bushes near the garden shed, still bleeding. We speculated that it may have gotten itself pregnant again and miscarried again ... Cats can get pregnant again anytime - it's not unusual cats come into heat a few days after giving birth [1].

Although it had the most frightened look on its face, it was still cleaning itself, and was kind of mobile but fidgetty. All we could do was place its food tray beside it near the bamboo plant in the back garden to save from moving unnecessarily and hopefully get better. We had no idea what else to do and even contemplated taking it to the vet the next day if its' condition persisted. As the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes ... Blinkey was found (by the maid) under the car in the porch in a pool of blood the next morning. Blinkey must have moved to the front and bled all night long. She must have laid there, in the cold and on the cold tiles all night.

The maid took Blinkey to the side of the house and cleaned it and placed it at the side of the house. I was not at the scene, but my wife actually saw Blinkey gasping for breath after it was cleaned, until it breathed no more a few moments later. Inna lillahi wainna ilaihiroji'un .. Blinkey's gone, forever. We buried Blinkey at the back of the garden. Looking back at the whole incident that happened in the space of three days, we strongly believe that Blinkey may have been hit by a motorcycle near the house, and although no physical injuries could be detected, there may have been serious internal injuries... hence the bleeding. No feelings can describe the moment when looking at the lifeless form of Blinkey ... and it was still bleeding. It was so sad ... still, God giveth and God taketh away .. Goodbye, our Blinkey ...

LOS TEROPONG

Los Teropong (Teropong means binoculars) comments on current issues in Malaysia, and sometimes the world, and put forth another opinion and perspective. BY THE WAY - THEY HUNG THE WRONG GUY ...