In the seemingly endless stream of stories relating to stray cat abuse, it’s good to detox all those bad memories with a touching story of a man and his lifelong dedication to community cats.
On the Cat Welfare Society Facebook page, Huixian Su recounts the story of her father, a late night taxi driver who held an undying commitment towards the welfare of the cats in his Ang Mo Kio neighbourhood.
“It all started more than 12 years ago with 2 cats, a mother and son that we named Tammy and Tommy. They were found abandoned at our void deck in Ang Mo Kio and we simply didn’t have the heart to walk away. We started feeding them and taking care of them and this started our journey as caregivers. Soon, we were caring for an entire community of cats in our neighbourhood.”
Though Su’s father didn’t earn much every month, he would still have the means to put aside some money for food and vet bills for all his beloved cats.
“Dad was the main caregiver, feeding the cats twice daily, whilst I ensured the cats were sterilised and provided with medical attention when necessary. Despite getting older and having weak knees, he carried a bag weighing about 8kg filled with cat food and bottles of water for the cats. We worked well as a team and we became best friends with a common cause.”
Mr Soh loved his cats and when they passed, he would always prepare them for cremation with a lot of love and attention,…
Posted by Cat Welfare Society on Thursday, 8 October 2015
Aside from the logistical challenges, Su and her father also had to face complaints from some of their neighbours about the stray cats.
“Often, we had complaints from residents about the cats so my dad made sure the feeding areas were washed and kept clean at all times. His priority was the welfare of the cats and he didn’t want to cause any trouble that would lead to issues with the neighbours. He really loved his cats and would do anything to protect them.”
Though the noble man has since passed away, his dedication towards community cats is carried on by Huixian, who has become in mainstay in the Cat Welfare Society’s network of volunteer feeders. Her father’s bond with the cats were exceptional, and this shone through when an astonishing incident transpired during his funeral:
“Dad might have left this world but his legacy remains, and every time I see his cats waiting for him at their usual spots, my heart aches. One of his cats Gara (pictured) actually came to visit during his funeral wake at the void deck – that was a very moving moment for me and my family and gave me strength to continue his work.”
“This is a journey of no return for me and definitely the best way to remember my father. I hope this story will inspire more people out there to step up and make a difference to the cat community in your area.”
Photos: Cat Welfare Society Facebook page
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