Fourteen years ago, Target dislocated his paw. — Photos: ELLEN WHYTE
Target is lying at my feet, snuggled into the purple plushy mat. It seems like yesterday that our orange joined our family, but it’s been eighteen years. Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun?
Looking back, we’ve picked out some of the sweetest, scariest, and touching times.
Back in 2007, we had just lost Scoop. While we were all devastated, Au was bereft. Scoop had been Au’s mentor, friend, and stand-in father. Au was shattered with loss.
While he accepted our cuddles, poor Au was off his food, cried a lot, wandered around the house aimlessly, and was clearly pining.
Au needed a cat friend, and fast. Six weeks after Scoop passed, we talked to our vets, and connected with a suitable kitten.
Target’s family were killed in a storm drain during a flood. The tiny handful of ginger fluff was the only survivor.
When I went to meet him, I had a lot of questions but one look at the wide green eyes and bat-like ears slayed me. When he put his paws around my neck and buried his face in my hair, all I could do was say, “Come and live with us.”
Kitten Target was intimidated by Au at first but he soon realised the giant cat was a big softy. Target promptly adopted Au as his hero.
Target adopted Au as his hero.
Au loved it. He took the kitten for walks, played with him, taught him to hunt, and treated him like a little brother.
Reflecting on this, I sense legacy: Scoop was kind to Au, and in turn Au fostered Target. That loving legacy continued over the years, with Guido, Frankie, Tic Tac and Inkie all welcomed in their turn.
Kitten Target played with ping pong balls, ribbons, bits of grass and of course, Au. Rain or shine, that playfulness punctuates our days.
Even at eighteen, Target maintains a happy mischievousness. After our morning cuddle and tuna, Target chases Tic Tac, Inkie bites Target in the bum, and then all of them thunder up and down the stairs like a thundering herd of elephants.
It’s a daily reminder to make time for fun in life.
Target and Au wrestling happily.
Target lives for snuggles, and as I’m his best human, he sleeps with me. Our orange snuggles down next to me, head on my pillow and long furry body pressed up against mine under the covers.
If I waken up during the wee hours of the morning, Target is snoozing peacefully, paws wrapped firmly around me. If I touch him, he snuggles even closer and purrs us both to sleep.
Life's sweeter when you hug your loved ones.
We've had a few scary moments. Au and Target alerted us to invading cobras on three separate occasions. When the Bomba came to rescue us, it was hard to tell who was most frightened: the furries or us.
Another time, Target jumped off a roof and became trapped in a paddy field. To rescue him, we climbed a ladder and lowered a blanket down to him. When he stuck his claws in, we hauled him up. Huge relief all round!
But the worst time was in 2009 when Target came back from a walk with a dislocated paw. Our vets recommended Dr Phua, a specialist in Kuantan.
Target and Inkie in their cat cave.
Poor Target was awfully brave. He trusted me to pick him up and put him in the car. We drove through the night, turning up as the clinic opened.
Thankfully, Dr Phua managed to realign the bones while Target was out cold under deep general anaesthetic.
Back at home, Target limped out of his box, chugged some water, and then passed out on his bed.
To our relief, Target was super good about resting in bed as we nursed him.
Thankfully, he healed. His paw is a little weak and he doesn’t jump as high as he used to, but he walks, runs, plays, and wrestles like a champion.
It’s taught us that when life gets hard, leaning in with those we love makes all the difference.
He makes time for fun every day.
In our house, dinner is bonding time. It’s perfectly okay to stick your nose in someone else’s bowl.
When Guido arrived, he was horrified. Our striped boy feared he’d starve. Target was a big cat by then and mentoring the kitten.
With patience and the occasional firm paw, Target convinced Guido to relax. They soon ate together, chatting as they munched.
While it’s proof that sharing is caring, Target might regret his take on open bowls now, since Inkie has hollow paws, and Tic Tac is a shameless treat thief.
Guido (left) was purrsuaded by Target that sharing is caring.
Two years ago, just after his sixteenth Gotcha Day, Target boarded Malaysian Airlines flight MH2, and moved to London.
While Target embraced expatriate life with his usual courage, the weather was a challenge. Tic Tic bounced about, snoopervising our every move, but the boys were cold.
We built them a heated electric blanket and turtle batik tent and added tuna, biscuits and fresh water room service.
Target lives for snuggles.
When the furniture arrived, Target emerged and discovered the joys of the feather duvet. He grew a thick fur coat – helped by extra tuna!
Today Target rules the house with a firm paw again. His electric blanket lives on the sofa, he has his purple plushy in my office and as always, Target has dibs on half of my pillow.
It’s proof that when you’re with good friends, you can do anything.
Target's Gotcha Day is October 25th, but we're partying all month long. It's been a blast, and here's to more happy years!
