Can Go Up Cannot Come Down

Hi


What is it that can go up but cannot come down.

You guess.

Cat!!

Correct. Correct!

This handsome cat with a voluminous tail had the other day climbed up the gaharu tree and got stuck between the branches. I heard its whining as it was trying to get down but I didn't give much attention as I thought if it knew how to go up surely it would know how to come down. I got things to do in the house better not waste my time watching him. Just hoping that if he descends don't ever poo in my garden.

Nearly three hours later I found him (or her? nevermind, it's him because he can climb trees) still up there. His whining was more heart-rending.

Serious situation.  He really cannot climb down. He must be up there for many hours already and must be hungry by then

I brought out a ladder and position it so I thought the cat could jump on to the ladder and get down. But it was afraid and instead, it tried to climb higher.

I dare not climb the ladder to bring it down. Apart from my leg has not yet recovered from some muscle injury I am also not very fond of cuddling and holding cats. Geli! My other half is worse he has Ailurophobia - that irrational fear of cats. Hmmph. We had a brief face-off as who would have to take down the cat.

Then I Whatsapp neighbors the above photos with caption "sapa punya?" but no one owned up. No response.

Lucky we have a gallant neighbor next door. He came out when he heard the commotion. He came to the rescue.

It was quite an effort to bring down the cat as it was reluctant and kept pulling back and did not want to jump into the container in which was put some fishy bits and pieces. The cat looked frightened and did not respond to coaxing. It only surrendered after some force was used but all were unharmed, the cat, the rescuer. No untoward incident.

I found out much later from the owner that the cat was missing from the night before so I assume the cat was stuck there for many hours. Its no wonders why it appeared dazed and bengong and not even a meow when finally brought down and released.

The cat with the voluminous tail

It moved around as if looking for something. Then it rested a while at the car porch and then went roaming again between the plants. Then it stopped. Hey, I thought cats don't eat grass, only cows and the like do it but I observed there and realized cats do eat grass.

There was a tag hung around the neck. A phone number marked on it. I called. There was no response from the owner. The cat later found its way out and much later the owner called back saying that the cat was safe at home and that it was missing from last night.

Found out that cats are naturally good at climbing up but not so much for climbing down due to their having curved claws and stronger hind legs but weaker front legs. 

Friends, if you see your cat climbing up a tree warn it not to go up too high okay :))

Itchy

Hi friends

Have you ever been bitten by sandfly?

Me, yes. I have got a few episodes . Why? Because I like walking barefoot along the beach in the morning. Those nasty flies live there in the sand.

They hide in the damp the dark and wet sand and soil brought by the tides. They also live in the crevises in the rocks and on dead tree trunk stranded on the beach. Usually we cannot see those insects.

They are around when the sun is not yet high more so when the tide is low and the day is not windy. Thats my observation.

Its bite is many times worst than the mosquito bite. The fact is that you are not aware when it is coming near to you unlike the mosquito. With the mosquito you can get ready to slap as it is buzzing and zooming on to you.

The sand fly does not make any sound if there is we might not hear it. You don't realise their presence.

The insect is very tiny.

What I can notice the abdomen is whitish.  I think I can only see that because as it digs into your skin thats the only part easily visible. You may not be aware when  that fellow is digging into you and won't let go until you feel the bite and your reflex is to tenyeh as hard as you can at the spot.

Sometimes you don't feel the sting at the moment it occurs.  You only knew you were stung by the sandfly when you are in the shower later.

They also can fly high because I have  experienced been bitten on the face and neck and even in the scalp not only on the legs. They can go under your clothing and into your hair.

Usually after you tenyeh or scratch at the spot the irritation may go off. You may just dismiss it, just a little itchiness right?

Don't be fooled by this insect. The next day redness and bumps will start to show. and oh the itchiness . . .

Eagle are you itchy?

Another half day there will be more redness and swelling and intense itching and burning sensation and you will feel feverish at the height of your body reaction to the sandfly bites.

My experience is the reaction lasted for several days. Its horrible especially at night you can't sleep even if you already applied soothing ointment on the affected part and the surrounding skin. You may even scratch until it bleeds if you are not careful. Thats how intense the itch is.

The redness and bumbs subside after a number of  days. But the itchiness will still be there though not as bad as before. If you have dry skin around the bitten area the itchiness will not go off completely so you must always apply skin lotion.

Avoid scratching if you feel a little itch. If you start scratching then you cannot stop.

The body reaction to sandfly bites takes some time to completely heal. It will heal somehow so don't worry even the seven year itch also can heal ok  hehehe . . .just joking . . .

If the itch drag on and if you feel it's not likely to go away sooner then better go and see a doctor.

So now when I go for a stroll in the morning I would apply some kind of insect repellent. Even the ordinary skin cream would do. Or even the baby oil. If I get bitten the effect is not as bad when not covering the skin with any. And wear long pants and long sleeve and don't forget the cap.

So do not be alarmed by my entry ok. You still can enjoy the beach in early morning or late evening, just remember to take a little precaution.

Oh one more thing I'd like to add. These micropredators that bite and suck your blood are the females.

They are equipted with the right weapon to gore into your skin and suck your blood out.
(Hah . . .again . . . the females have got to do the dirty job.)

Don't get yourself bitten by insects. It can make you very uncomfortable. It can make you very restless . . .

If you cannot reach to scratch the back 

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Take care .

Bye

The Star Attraction On A Hari Raya Open House

Hi friends

As promised here it is the uninvited guest but most welcomed.

Bye . . .

Cats Are For Keeping Birds Are For Watching

Hi

In our community cat is a popular pet. Loved by children and adults alike.

Cats are cuddly and affectionate may be that's why. They are so fluffy and furry and should be nice to touch. I used the word should because I see people can't help but to touch it when the cat comes to rub up against them . But I don't.

When the cat especially if kitten comes near me I would try to avoid. Why. . . its because I have never had a cat as pet throughout my life. Not used to cat rubbing up my leg. Geli. Squirmish.

These feline creatures are lovely and interesting to have according to most people.

I have a friend, also retired, keeps herself busy rearing quite a number. Feed them clean them bathe them. She takes the trouble to do all. Its all for the love of cats. I can't imagine myself doing what she does.

It is not to say that I hate cat. No.

May be it is because my liking for cat had stunted by past experience.

When I was little living in the kampung we used to have this type of ancient stove. A lot of firewood being used and a lot of ashes produced.

Some people still prefer to cook this way

And mother said cats liked this kind of place. . . .to poo.

And who would want to clear the mess.

If a cat strayed into the house she would chase it like crazy.

So no cat in my home though we children wanted to have one .

The rule that no cat in the house is being practiced into my own family even though I had upped my standard to using the gas stove. My children at one time expressed their desire to have a cat. No!

Instead I allowed them to have tortoise. I remember helping my son digging a small well in the compound to house the bigger tortoise. The smaller ones he used to play by allowing the little thing to crawl up his arm shoulder and face. However the big tortoise escaped.

And my daughter at one time brought back a few small turtles. We reared for some time and when they grew bigger we gave up by releasing them into a lake since we did not have a proper aquarium. They were too tedious to care for.

Now that my children are adults and living on their own they are free to have cats. No they don't have them in their homes.

I know all my grandchildren like cats. They got excited all over when telling stories about the gentle Anjang the big furry cat belonging to their other grandma.

The youngest when she was just a tiny tot could even stop crying to point and say "cat!" when a cat passed by. The magical cat can make a child stop crying.

Now there are so many of these mammals roaming in and around my compound. I do not know whether they are just strays or they belong to somebody. All are looking nice and well fed. They are creating a mess pooing everywhere which can make me go angry. I have an extra duty scooping to get rid of the smelly stuff. Yuck.

Their non stop meowing at night is also annoying.

Sometimes I am like a mad woman  trying hard to chase them away . Problem. Really.

But when I see them closely my heart melts.

Sorry its not you cat, its your owner. They must take care of you. Toilet trained you. So you don't create a mess just anywhere you like! Hmm.

Unlike birds cat can be good photographic model by giving you different poses. They give you time to select exposures fumble with the  camera.

Put me on the blog  ;-)

Purr r r

Indifference

Cuddly

Is it important to put me on the blog...

Oh I see

Somehow I like to pursue and capture the avian species but always not very successful.

Some are tame and become exhibits

A child has great fascination for birds

Difficult to capture a bird in flight

I'm not an expert

Sometimes by a coincidence you get to see a moment like this

 Sharing and caring. Mmmm TQ. . .

Hope you enjoy reading.

Have a good day with your adorable cat.

 Bye. . .