17 April 2005 - 10 May 2008
Dearly loved, sorely missed, fondly remembered, never forgotten..
ChaCha, when he first appeared on my doorstep on 17 April 2005..
About A month later..
Actually, the little guy couldn't have come at a better time - about a month after his arrival my housemate announced that she'd be moving out. So, ChaCha was right there to keep me company!
He would follow me everywhere I went and was there to amuse me as I moved from room to room, cleaning the apartment, arranging the funiture, etc. ChaCha was great company.. he'd be at the door to greet me when I got home and usually he'd be very 'chatty' (who or what else was there for him to chat with???) and he'd always insist that I sat down to accompany him while he ate.. at least for a while. He also started asking to go out - something that I was quite hesitant and he quite persistent about! But, ChaCha was a smart fella.. he'd go out for a bit and come back.. He knew what a car was and not to be in its way!!
It was just the 2 of us for exactly 2 years before I got my next cat, Girl. Naturally, CahCha didn't take to her at first, but they eventually became great friends. Secretly, I reckon he actually appreciated her company.. especially when I had to go away. ChaCha also started being less 'chatty' - well, after all, now he had Girl to chat with, right?
Check out ChaCha's expression as he glares at Girl.. Friends at last..
Five month later, I got my third cat Mechi. Again, ChaCha was not pleased and took much longer to warm up to Mechi - probably 'coz Mechi was another male.. Mechi was terrified yet in awe of ChaCha.. but li'l Mechi was smart enough to keep his distance!!
Mechi checking out ChaCha from a safe distance.. A tender moment between the 2 boys..
All 3 got along well. I would often wake up in the morning with all 3 of them on the bed all around me! It was nice.. especially if all 3 were purring in unison!
ChaCha had some unique traits.. I don't think it was unique to him per se 'coz I'm pretty sure the are cats out there that also share these traits but it was "uniquely ChaCha" to me 'coz I've never had or met a cat that displayed such traits..
1. The Shower - He used to love hanging out by the bathroom door and watch the water from the shower, irregardless of whether there was anyone in the shower or not! Don't ask me why.. it just seemed to please and calm him... and it kept him quiet for a bit!
2. Bad Temper - Oh, yes.. this fella was a real fire cracker! He didn't like being teased. All you needed to do was to hold a fist up to his face and he'd get SO mad.. but it was quite funny and quite painful! My hands, arms, legs, ankles used to be covered with scraches and bite marks! And, this fella knew how to sigh! Not many people have heard it but he would actually sigh to express his annoyance!!
Flared nostrils.. pinned back ears.. ChaCha's angry!
3. The World Upside Down - At first I thought it was just a phase but ChaCha actually liked lying like this and watching the world go by.. or at least watching me go by! It was hilarious 'coz he'd lie like this but his eyes would follow me wherever I went.
4. I'm Sleepy - It was SO easy to tell when he was sleepy!
It would first start out with what seemed to be a pout..
Then, the rim of his eyes would turn all pinky..
Tho' there would be times when he would be sleepy but just couldn't sleep. So..
..he'd find a quiet spot to zone out, staring blankly into space (which often made me wonder what he was thinking of!!), before falling asleep.. or he'd suck and knead his favourite piece of cloth (or rather what used to be my shawl!) while purring to induce sleep.. So cute.. this was something he did till the very week he died..
OK, granted cats usually sleep a lot anyway but cats are nocturnal creatures. ChaCha, however, had adopted my sleep pattern and knew lights out meant sleep! But, he'd still sleep during the day too! Haha.. He always looked so peaceful when he was asleep..
The washing machine was one of his favourite spots 'coz it was by the window and, being the 'kay poh' that he was, he loved looking out to see what was going on outside. He would often meow out to me when he saw me below too..
6. The Poser - ChaCha also always knew how to pose for the camera and hardly ever took a bad picture! It was as if he knew what a camera was and what to do when faced with one!
7. Foot Fetish - You always had to be careful whenever you find him lying looking at the world upside down by you feet 'coz before you know it you may find that ChaCha had happily sunken his teeth into your toes! And, he always looked somewhat amused when people yelped! It would never be a hard bite that hurt but it definitely would give you a bit of a shock!
8. Mr. Sociable - ChaCha loved having company! He would be there to greet you at the door, then he'd follow you around and sniff you out! It was as tho' by sniffing you he could tell a lot about you. Most of the time he'd be happy just sniffing your feet or the leg of your pants or the hem of your skirt but on ocassion that wasn't enough and he would proceed to climb and sit next to you to sniff your top or even your face! And, he'd usually meow a lot as he went along too! Hilarious!! Most people who have visited me at home know what I'm talking about!
9. Dip, Dip - He liked dipping his paw into his drinking water.. somethimes both paws, one after the other, before taking a drink.. Why does he do it? Also, a mystery! I'd even asked the vet about it but he couldn't give me an explanation either. It was so cute to watch as he dipped his paw ever so gingerly..
10. Red Meat - Tho' cats generally like fish, ChaCha loved his read meat - lamb in particular! Beef was fine too but lamb was definitely No. 1!! Since there is no (wet) lamb flavoured cat food, I often had to resort to feeding him dog food! No complains from ChaCha - loved it!!
2005 - First Christmas together.. 2007 - Second New Year together.. Most recent & last pix of us together..
What can I say.. I've watched him grow from the scruffy little furball that turned up at my doorstep to the handsome young cat that he was. We spent a good 2 years solely in each others company - he was indeed my "Home Entertainment Unit" and there was never a dull moment!! I'll miss him lots... I had always feared that by letting him out something bad would come of it and.. it did.. but ChaCha was not one to happily remain indoors 24/7.. he was curious and loved the outdoors.. I still don't know what actually happened to him, not that it really matters now.. I only hope that he didn't suffer and passed on peacefully.. and if cats could understand emotions, I hope he knew how much he was loved..
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