Rue is Growing Up!

Remember Rue, the little kitten I found on a dark street?  (story HERE)

She’s now as clever and as quirky as a happy little kitteh should be!  She’s growing to be a real beauty.  Her markings are that of a classic tabby (swirls on the sides, parallel lines along her spine).  She also loves to parade in costume, is comfortable wearing a shirt, walks on a leash, and plays FETCH!  (see video HERE)

Rue just charms everyone, even the Vets in Practice vets!  Oh, and the best part is, Rue & Qish (my Siamese) are just inseparable

from TINY –


to a little bit grown-up

This blanket serves as her surrogate mother — she sucks on it until she falls asleep.

with her best friend, Qish.

Kitteh Purr-ito!

Rue, my special burrito

I Has New Kitteh!

I was walking on a Friday night along Lapu-Lapu St. (Makati City) when a tiny orange feline greeted me.  She looked like an orphan, and when I petted her, she responded in the sweetest way she can.  Then when I started walking again, she started following me.  She was so small that she was running feebly to catch up with me, with her itty-bitty paws almost tumbling on the pavement.  I took a second look, and decided that it will be a hassle to Qish to keep this tiny fellow.

But a hundred steps and a few minutes later (I couldn’t see/hear the kitten anymore), my conscience was bugging me.  This little fellow will surely die without the warmth of a home!  So I decided to walk back to pick her  up.  By then, she was following two students who were discussing whether to take her home or not.  When they said that they couldn’t bring her home, I knew I was destined to be her keeper.  So we went straight to Vets in Practice to make sure that she is healthy enough to co-habit with my big cat Qish.  Doc Melay advised me to put her in quarantine for one week while taking her antibiotics, so that she does not infect Qish in case she is sick.

When we got home, the big cat was not a hospitable host.  He started hissing and was disturbed the whole night!  While the kitten is still in quarantine (she still is not allowed to interact with Qish), I hope Qish will get used to the kitten’s smell.  I told him it’s his decision if we will keep the kitten, but I’m really hoping that they will get along well.  If not, I will have to re-home the kitten or bring him to CARA or PAWS   But I think he is slowly getting more comfortable with the kitten around, who is still confined in a cage.

The kitten is the cutest thing!  I’m thinking of naming her Rue Noire (nickname: Rue) or Mata-leão (nickname: Leão), or Deuxième (nickname:  Deux).  I know, I know.  I’m such an OC when it comes to naming pets!

More photos HERE

QISH Gets a Second Lease in Life…

…and he still has 8 more lives to enjoy.

Qish’s condition started getting worse last week, from getting ear mites to ear scabbing and yeast infection.  He got admitted for hospitalization in Vets in Practice (VIP) on the night of June 8 (Monday) because he stopped eating and he was dehydrated.  He was given an IV drip right away and I was advised that he should stay at the clinic for a few days.  I was confident that he will be well taken care of.

Two days later, he was not getting better.  I already thought I was going to lose Qish.  He wasn’t looking good and he still wouldn’t eat.  Dr. Nielsen Donato (part-owner/senior vet, articles about him HERE and HERE) talked to me because he was not responding to the treatments very well, so he ordered more tests to rule out hyperthyroidism.  When he tested negative for it, he said it could be autoimmune disease.  It’s a disease wherein the immune system overeacts and instead of fighting bacteria, viruses and other foreign elements, it attacks the healthy cells in his body.  Thus explains the wounds on Qish’s ears that won’t heal.  The wounds also started spreading on his forehead despite the antibiotics, and Doc Nielsen found a blister on his upper lip.  He looked miserably ill, it was totally depressing.

After administering the injection for immune system suppresant (Qish is on ‘roids!  I thought only body-builders take ‘roids! :p), I stayed and hugged him for almost three hours.  It’s a good thing all the people in VIP are nice, and they totally understand if you get emotional.  I didn’t cry when I was at the clinic, because I didn’t want Qish to feel that I was scared.  I wanted him to fight and live for me.  I felt helpless.

When I left, I found myself in Mandaluyong Church, praying hard to let Qish get through this.  He has been my only companion at home for the past two years, and he kept me alive during the time when I felt that I had no reason to live.  He was my angel, and I knew I had to do everything to get him well again.  I owe it to him.  I couldn’t sleep that night and asked my friends who have been part of Qish’s life to pray for him.

The following day, I almost dreaded to call or visit the clinic.  I didn’t want to see him even more miserable.  But of course I had to go.  And to my delight, he was almost bouncing when I got there!  His wounds dried up, and he was totally responsive!  The vets said they had a hard time giving him his pills because he was stronger now and he was really fighting.  Finally, I was seeing hope!  I was able to make him eat as well, and before I left, he was already grooming himself and my hand!  I was totally ecstatic.

Qish was discharged on June 13 (Saturday), after Doc Riza taught me how to make him take his pills.  He spent five days in the clinic but it was well worth it.  He was well taken care of and he got the best medical attention.  He is now recovering well at home, and he nows eat a LOT.  He still wouldn’t play though, even if I throw him his favorite ball.  But I’m sure he’ll be the same Qish in no time — that playful, almost mischievous furball who always greets me with a loud meow everytime I get home, as if saying (in LOLcat language), “Hooman!  Where has you been?  I spent all day alone and bored waiting for you, and you didn’t even bring me a treat!”

Throughout this ordeal, a lot of people were raising their eyebrows at me.  Why go through all the fuss of caring for a sick animal?  Why spend that much on medical bills, just to save the life of a cat?  But I just shrugged them off.  There shouldn’t be a difference in how we look after our friends, be it two-legged or four-legged, right?