Katz And Other Tales

Katz Tales by Ellen Whyte Book front cover image

Logomania by Ellen Whyte Book front cover image

I have two new books out! Click on the images above for free sneak peeks.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Formerly Feral Friday

Last night Tom went to bed and I stayed downstairs to finish Night Watch, that brilliant book by Terry Pratchett.

Everything was peaceful. The TV was off. There was no music playing. The main light was off too and I was reading in a puddle of lamp light. Target and Au were sitting on their rug, cleaning their faces and paws. Then the peace was shattered by a low growl from outside.

Target and Au froze. Target's eyes were huge. (see pic!)

They peeked out of the window and saw Yow Yow stalking up the drive. Yow Yow is a nice boy to me, but our resident stray tomcat puts the fear of god into all the kitties in the street.

I stood up, waved Yow Yow away and closed the door. Au was so relieved that he rubbed my ankles and gave me an approving yik-yik-yik. Target placed himself at my ankles and followed me upstairs. Only when he was firmly placed on my pillow did he relax.

It's just as well Au and Target don't live on the street anymore. Our formerly ferals are HUGE cowards!

Forgot: Katz Tales is out in the print version of the Malaysian national daily, The Star Weekender section tomorrow. Check it out!

Labels: feral

posted by katztales @ 4:07 AM (18) comments links to this post | 18 comments

Friday, September 18, 2009

Formerly Feral Friday

Target was born in a storm drain somewhere in Subang Jaya. He and his family got sick with some sort of flue. They were rescued by a very kind lady called Neamah. Unfortunately, only Target survived.

Our friend Scoop had passed away leaving Au rather lonely. Our vet Lee Wei Wei (who has now moved to her own clinic and we really miss her!) introduced us to Neamah and Target.

Although he's been treated well by his foster mum and by us, his furver family, Target is a little fraidy cat. He jumps if we sneeze without giving him notice. Panics if the wind slams a door closed. He even jumps when the label of the teabag flutters against my glass!!

Still, we adore our little fuzzy and he loves living with us. Here he is with the feather duster we bought for him. We put it in the cupboard and bring it out every few weeks so that it remains a favourite toy.

Scoop passed away two years ago this Sunday. He was a fantastic person. We still miss him every day, and I still see him sitting in front of the window sometimes. Sometimes when I'm half asleep I can hear his loud meow that made Tom nickname him "the marching band".

Anyway, for those of you in Malaysia, Dog Talk is out in The Star Weekender section tomorrow. It's in the print version only so you have to buy the paper!

Also, I'm being rather sneaky. This post was written yesterday. I'm very tired and need to take a complete break from everything. So I'm switching off my PC, my phones etc until Monday 28th. See you all when I get back.

Labels: feral

posted by katztales @ 6:06 AM (13) comments links to this post | 13 comments

Friday, August 28, 2009

cat inoculations

I have been wanting to inoculate all the strays in my area for some years but with 6 permanent strays at the front, several street strays that come and go, and a 13 cat strong colony at the back (and half of them feral) and no place in my house to keep recovering kitties, I just haven't been able to do it.

Another big drawback was vet charges. My old vet charged an arm and a leg for shots. Now things are looking up. I have a cat pal who can house recovering kitties in her back room, and I have found a vet who is MUCH cheaper. With his prices I can inoculate two cats for the price of one.

We've started with Tam (pictured left) the kitty who lives across the road from us in our neighbour's garden. And I have also inoculated two kittens from the feral colony at the back of my house.

I am hoping to earn some extra cash soon to fund the rest of them. So cross your fingers for me - and if you know of a literary agent or publisher interested in romance novels, send me a contact! If I can sell one book to Harlequin or similar group, I can do the whole feral colony at the back in one go.

Labels: feral, Tam

posted by katztales @ 1:03 AM (17) comments links to this post | 17 comments

Thursday, August 20, 2009

On the abyss

There are 3 little kittens out back with the stray cat colony. (this pic is of one of the tamer mums) A few weeks ago, they began to look crusty at the ears. I got some lotion from a cat rescue expert and tried to fix them up. Not easy as two out of three are feral.

The tame one, the little black one got better almost instantly. But the two others deteriorated. It took me a while to catch them but yesterday I managed. I caught one with the aid of some prawns and a long, fast arm. The other, unfortunately, was so sick that I could just pick her up.

We went to a new vet, Dr Bas in SS14/2, who treated the feisty one and said she'd be jumping about in no time. She was too. I just gave her breakfast and she's looking great.

But the other little one is at death's door. She got some antibiotics and some other meds and I took her home. She's in my bathroom, wrapped up in a T-shirt. Last night she could move about. She wouldn't eat but she took some water. This morning she was stretched out flat on the floor. I thought she was dead but she made a little noise when I stroked her face.

I've just given her some warm water, drop by drop through a syringe, and I have given her a rub down with a soft, dry cloth from face to tail. I'm trying to mimic a mother's rub down lick. Hopefully this will keep her insides working, and stimulate her will to live.

I'll do it again in two hours. Then I have to go out, but I'll be back to do it all again in three hours after that.

I hope this little one will make it. Purr for us please!

Update: the kitten died at 1030AM. Sad day.

Labels: feral

posted by katztales @ 6:46 AM (17) comments links to this post | 17 comments

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Community Cat

We've got tonnes of stray cats in Malaysia, and this issue of Weekender in The Star highlights the start of the Community Cat project, a Trap Neuter Release programme.

The main impetus for this comes from the people from Furry Friends Farm, a safe haven for strays, and a long-term member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals.

As they depend entirely on gifts, we've given them a web page of their own to promote the community cat idea.

If we're lucky, we'll emulate Rome’s communities of strays or the Gatti Di Roma!

PS Here is Farah, the first Community Cat.

PPS Samantha who lives in MPSJ area... I can't find your blog as your comment name link is closed to public view. I think these kill and destroy raids are daft too. And how awful your kitty was murdered! I think every community should work pro-actively as described in today's Community Cat article.

Labels: feral, weekend cat blogging

posted by katztales @ 10:43 AM (4) comments links to this post | 4 comments