So I WAS over the moon for a night. G seemed to be recuperating from her outing and just slept more than usual. Everything looked to be fine – I was even mentally patting myself on the back cos G only meowed twice in the middle of last night – not ‘pressing’ enough to warrant me getting up cos they weren’t urgent calls (you definitely can hear the difference). 

Then at 615am this morning. Both the man and I were woken up by Prince. Ok, on to a brief history of Prince : he’s a 10yr old wire hair Jack Russel who, we were jokingly saying last night, has made us a happy family of 7(一家七口). Dan has had him for the last 10 years but he has always been in the care of Dan’s Mom cos there simply wasn’t space at home in the past.

Anyhoo, we woke up to shush Prince and I casually called out for G. She usually comes to me when I call her in the morning. No sight. So I asked Dan to check the sofas. Nothing. And there aren’t that many places to hide in the house cos it’s so open. Maybe she’s sleeping in the helper’s room. We made ourselves early breakfast and waited for the helper to get up. Not in her room too.

Other than being genuinely baffled at how she does her disappearing act, I don’t feel as upset as I did the first time. I think it’s because she has proven herself a survivor outside. Also, if she’s been out, enjoys being out, and has managed to find a way out despite our best attempts to catproof the house, then what’s the point of trying to keep her indoors. 

Before Dan headed out an hour ago, he told me that G was in the same place we found her just two nights ago – under the drain in front of the house. Dan pulled up the grille and we called out to her. She meowed in reply, but remained cowering under the drain. Despite repeated calling, she withdrew further into the drain and there really wasn’t anything to do but to leave her alone. She isn’t one to be bribed with food (doesn’t eat much), or treats (doesn’t eat much) or toys(being outdoors must be so much more stimulus than any toy).

So. I won’t be following up on this Miss G ‘thread’ cos it sounds to me like it’ll be a series of “She’s home! ” and “She’s not “.

Everything in life teaches a lesson. This lesson seem to say “This too shall pass.”

I’ll leave G in His hands.

I was up til 2am last night looking at Miss G sleep. She was evidently exhausted cos she allowed me to squeeze her paws, stroke her head, and basically ‘bother’ her the whole time she laid on the carpet under the table with her eyes closed. I wondered if she was lying there thinking about her 12 day adventure. I wondered if she made good or bad memories. And then I wondered if I had gone delirious with joy cos maybe cats don’t think or have memories.

But of course they must have some sort of memory, because how else to explain her appearance outside our front gate yesterday? My sister in law(Yvonne) and I were having a chat when we heard an impossible to ignore persistent meowing. I didn’t think it was G cos it didn’t sound like her but Yvonne said that animals sound different in distress so we went out to investigate. (I recognise this sounds almost like I wouldn’t be bothered if it was a stray cat but I’ll have to admit that G is the only first cat I have real feelings for.) We couldn’t see any cat cos it was dark out and the meowing was coming from under a car.

Finally, Yvonne determined that the meowing was from the drain under the car, and one of the wheels was directly on the grille covering it. I didn’t dare to even think that it might be G because really, what are the chances? Yvonne was already calling “G? Is that you? G?”

Still too dark to see.

I was going to head in the house for a flashlight but decided to walk further down to another drain opening. I rapped on the metal grille and against hope, tentatively said “G?” *rap rap rap* “G?”

The meowing stopped at the other drain opening and Yvonne said “She’s heading your direction!” Yvonne hurried over to where I was, assessed the drain and with herculean strength, lifted the big metal grille covering the drain, on its hinges.

Then I saw a little head come out from the dark. A little black and white head first, followed by a scrawny and dirty body. The disbelief and the (soft and careful) shrieking hit us both about the same time. “It’s G! IT’S G!!!”

G seemed scared and stayed just out of my reach. (Btw, that reach is very limited because of the beach ball under my top ) My logical brain told me she might bolt and run anytime from fear, but I just KNEW she wouldn’t and that she was ready to come home. When I eventually picked her up, she offered zero resistance.

What struck me when I picked her up was how light she had become (heart pain!!) , and then the heady feeling of disbelief and joy. Despite the urge to hug and kiss her immediately, the anal clear minded side of me said she needed a bath first because she’s evidently been in very unclean places.

And hug and kiss her I did afterwards. Lots! I’m sure she didn’t go “yuck” because she woke me up at 5am, meowing for more love or maybe it was just separation anxiety….  She even stood on her hind legs and did this kneading motion with her front paws on my chest. Something she used to do when she was a kitten and hasn’t done in a long time. I really think she missed me too I’m not sure I’ll be waxing lyrical if she continues waking me up through the night from now – I don’t think I’ll have a lack of disturbed sleep once Renee arrives but for now, because it’s G’s homecoming, because I can’t believe that she’s actually home, it’s ok.

Thank You, God.

The story of G. (written 28 Sept 2008) :

Dan brought a tiny bundle of fur home yesterday. Judging from the still attached umbilical cord and her shut eyes, she looks maybe 3 days old and very vulnerable. She wasn’t abandoned by choice. Dan rescued her from near the remains of her mother after what looks to be a car accident – not a pretty sight. We’ve named her G for Giant and there is actually meaning behind it beyond the irony – she was found near Giant supermart in Tampines.

After a night and a day, I’ve discovered just how apt her name is : “gee, do you need food again?” and “gee, why do you keep crying?”. As you can probably guess, I’m not just a little frustrated when she keeps crying even after I’ve fed her and cleaned her. All babies, humans or animals, just require alot of attention – an excellent practice run for babies if I have any in future.

I’ve been told that i should just put her in SPCA, never mind that they’ll put a kitten to sleep cos chances of survival is extremely slim for a newborn without her mother. I’ve also been told that it’s just a stray and it wouldn’t be shocking to leave her in any corner along any building. But it’s really tough to do that because I’ve felt her suckling from a milk bottle and occasionally on my fingers. It’s also really tough to leave for dead (as opposed to leaving because sometimes leaving isn’t a bad thing), another living being with whom you’ve spent time with and cared for.

So until we find a proper home for G, it’s gonna be a while more of mothering. Anybody looking to house a kitten, please drop me a note.

As you probably guessed, nobody was looking to house a kitten and she stayed with us since. To be honest, I don’t think I could’ve given her away even if somebody was looking. Too much emotional investment/attachment.

Fast forward to today, she’s brought us plenty of joy, fun and frustration cos she can be really naughty. As of yesterday, she also brought me plenty tears because she ran away from home.

It just kills me to think of her being bullied, or starving, or scared in the outside world. Worse, what if some cat hater got to her? What if she can’t protect herself because we only recently trimmed her nails?

Dan rightly pointed out to me that cats innately want to be free. They want to roam the world never mind that it’s at the expense of a warm and safe haven where food, water and love is plentiful. With that, I can only pray for her safety and hope she’s happy wherever she is.

Letting go is so painful but at this point, the only thing that makes sense to do.

Here’s sharing happy times with Miss G :

If only you’d known you were going to trade…

• Monthly PMS for nine months of weeping
• Lacy thongs for cotton tents
• Sex for gas
• Birth control for laxatives
• Going to the gym for getting up to pee
• Your waist for a hot-air balloon
• Kickboxing for kick counts
• Your innie for an outie — a way-outie
• Sleeping for groaning
• Freedom for the most intense love you’ve ever known

I laughed so hard because some of them are so so true. Looking forward to experiencing the intense love