RIP Ketaq

When I got up this morning, it felt odd that I didn't hear the hungry purr outside the bedroom door. It felt odd that I still peep around to see if there is any dead mouse that you normally bring home after your nightly hunts. It felt odd not to see your fur on the dining table and it was even more odd that I kept wiping the table clean even though it had stayed clean overnight.



I want you to know that I still open the back door in case you're hungry. After so many years together, it is hard to break some habits.



I miss Ketaq...



Ketaq came into our household in mid-2006. He was not Ketaq then...he was Noah. A handsome arrogant American Curl-Ear Long Haired breed. He was the Noah who lived in an apartment. It took him a good two weeks before he came out from under Isya's bed...and took him another one month to familiarize himself with our home, garden and of course with Ketum.

Ketum was only three months old when she knew Ketaq. Somehow Ketaq immediately assumed the role of a big brother to Ketum. When Ketum couldn't jump across the drain..it was Ketaq who pull her to other side.

After a while, Noah became Ketaq. A more appropriate name for a cat who loved to jump around in the bushes, catching small mice and lizards and napping under the mango tree.

Ketum loves Ketaq. Tumbling together across the living room became their daily routine. Every morning they would fight over their food and it was Ketaq (being the big brother) who would always gave in.

The morning of 3rd March 2009, Ketaq did not come home for his breakfast. Ketum waited and waited by the door. I didn't think much of it because the cats would sometimes miss one or two meals. By night time, it was begiining to seem strange. Sebab Ketaq ni kuat makan....

All of us went looking for Ketaq. So many possibilities were played out in our minds....kena curi ke? Kena gigit anjing ke..? Sesat ke..?

For two days and two nights, we searched for Ketaq.

Yesterday I looked for him again...then I saw his lifeless body. From the state of the body, it appeared to have been dead for quite some time. I couldn't get to him then because he was in the neighbour's compound, which meant I had to wait until they all come home from work to pick up the body.

I remembered feeling numb because he maybe a cat but he was always "around my legs" that the thought of being able to walk without the fear of tripping suddenly became... odd. I went back home and started digging a hole in front of the house...in the hot sun.

When Opi and Isya came back from school, they saw the hole. Opi immediately knew but Isya got a bit upset that I didn't continue looking. She told me that it was wrong to assume that Ketaq is dead. Initially I didn't have the heart to tell her that I have already found Ketaq...but I believed she needed to know.


I buried him in front of the house. Isya put flowers on his grave and Opi put some bricks around it. In side the house, I put away his water bowl and threw away his litter. The house seems...different.

This morning, Ketum still waits for Ketaq a.k.a Noah...

It takes time...well I still unlock the back door....