Putih, the Citroen Cockatoo

Photo: A Citroen cockatoo named Putih.

It was only for two days, but the chance to be a pet-sitter for this Citroen cockatoo named Putih was something I would never forget in my entire life. I had never kept or pet-sat a cockatoo before, so Putih was my first experience. I must say, he was one of the sweetest creatures I've ever encountered. It's true; they say, cockatoos are sugar and spice and everything nice!

Putih was initially priced around RM7000, but my boyfriend managed to bargain as low as three thousand from a reputable bird breeder. The reason is Putih didn't like the whole family of his previous owner - just because they once clipped some of his wings! It's a very rare case, I believe, where a parrot would go frantic to the people who trim its wings.

This sweet two-year-old Citroen cockatoo gets along perfectly with my boyfriend, me, and everybody else. He is nothing far from what I'd read about cockatoos before - likes to be pampered, to be caressed, to be hugged, to be kissed, and just to be with you. Everytime I pretended to leave him, he would panic and would try his best to get to where I was, and at the same time uttering, "Hello... Hello... Hello..." The voice sounded like a plead each time, sometimes it was heart-breaking to see him attempting to fly to me, knowing full well that he was unstable and would only land on the ground.

In my care, I found out that he liked wheat breads so much. Every time I wanted to have my piece of bread with Putih around, I knew that I wouldn't be left alone until he had 'trained' me that "sharing is caring".

Photo: This picture of Putih confirms my personal belief that parrots are such good posers!

A Final Goodbye for Baby Caramel

I never thought I would do this, but the pain I'm feeling inside is just too much for me to bear. I cannot keep it, I cannot hold it any longer... and this is what I have to say.

It's 2:49 a.m. I'm not able to put myself to sleep, no matter how much tossing and turning I made in bed. For everytime I closed my eyes, the thoughts of you and the memories of us together came vividly into my head. Do you still remember the time when we faced each other, and I talked to you until we both fell asleep? Do you still remember the time when I kissed you relentlessly the moment you were handed over to me, saying how much I had missed you? Do you still remember the times when we watched television and played "Come!"? Do you still remember the times when we looked out the window and I showed you the world beyond your cage, beyond my house?

I still do remember... every facet of the reminiscences of the brief period we had. And I will treasure everything of you as long as I shall live.

Did I not tell you to hang on? Did I not tell you that I wanted you to stay healthy and be strong? Did I not tell you that I wished to see you grow up? And did I not tell you that I would never, ever forgive myself if you died?

For the truth is, baby, I cannot forgive myself. I cannot let go of this enormous guilt within me for what you had gone through before your last breath. You were such a darling, my baby. You did not deserve it. My heart shattered into pieces knowing that you were hurting, and knowing nothing I could do to help you ease your suffering. And my heart broke all over again looking at you looking at me when the Almighty Lord decided it was time for you to be by His side.

Photo: I'll be a good girl, baby, just like you were. For I hope to see you again... but this time, in Heaven.

Goodbye, Caramel - my baby, my pet, my angel.

Nursing My Maternal Instincts!

I don't believe in neutering cats. In my opinion, that's a cruel practice. Nonetheless, veteranians who perform the task as well as pet owners who sterilize their felines may be quick to criticize my non-compliance, especially if they learn about Salem's ceaseless birth-giving.

The worse has yet to come. Everytime she gives birth to kittens, she suckles them ONLY for a few days before she moves on to her next sex-capade. Most of her babies didn't get to survive. By the way, Salem is Lucky's mother and hence, Chi-Boy's grandmother. Quoting from another blog of mine, if Salem was a human, she would be a 60 years old lady!

I came up with what I think a good solution. Kindly scroll down for the image.

Photo: Yes, it's a pet nursing bottle!

A good number of Salem's kittens didn't get the chance to see the world was because, first, she refused to suckle the previous babies until they died, and second, she often compressed them with her weight until they couldn't move and even breathe. How the heck did I know? Well, it wasn't uncommon to find out a baby's muffled screams under Salem's body. The next thing I knew was the baby was already dead. It still remains a wonder to all of us (my whole family) whether she did it deliberately or accidentally. We eventually came to a conclusion that this female cat of ours is senile.

Photo: Are these babies going to have the same fate?

This time, I'm not going to let that happen again. Before, everyone in my family would dread looking at Salem's bulging tummy. Now? Err... at least I was the only one who anticipated her pregnancy this time around. But then, why not?

Video: Because I'm getting used to being a surrogate mother... and loving every minute of it!

The Diary of Caramel, my Cinnamon Cockatiel

As a matter of fact, I did write a diary of two weeks on Baby Caramel. From the very first day I brought her home until the very last day God took her away from me. Blame it on my carelessness, I accidentally deleted the document saved in my thumb drive. Deleted documents from thumb drives can never be retrieved, right? Too bad!

Thankfully, I still have pictures of this precious little thing.

Photo: Getting used to the new home, new environment.

Photo: She might be small, but I think she could feel the stress. She wouldn't eat, and I was so worried that I had to force her a little bit by spoon-feeding.

Photo: When she had gotten the grip of the change, she had begun eating steadily. Baby Caramel wasn't as anxious as Sun-Ray and I was cetain that she wouldn't fly away, so I thought it was safe to bring her outside for some fresh morning air.

Video: "Come, Caramel, come!" One thing I'll always remember her about - being able to respond to my callings.

An Unexpected 'Package' from Above

I'd been hearing it for days and nights. A kitten's meow. Primarily I thought it was somebody's baby cat demanding for food from its owner. As days went by, I was almost sure that the kitten was abandoned. I couldn't be more precise when this morning, the wandering kitten stood at the frontyard of my house! I had made a vow to myself earlier that I'd take care of that homeless creature, as I felt the kitten needed a home and an owner. Lucky is expecting; Salem (Lucky's mother; Chi-Boy's grandmother) is also pregnant. So, I thought, one more kitten wouldn't hurt.

This kitten was startled by my excitement, afraid, and ran out of the gate. I gave chase, but only to find out that it got away by hiding under a car. Disappointed, I just let it be. Turned out that the chase was the first, but not the last. The kitten made a constant noise again at night in the neighbourhood.

To cut a long story short (you wouldn't want to know; I even brought out a laundry basket outside!), I caught her by my hands. The baby cat struggled in my embrace. From the genitals, I could tell it was female. At home, I gave her a bowl of milk. She drank greedily, but in a small amount. I made her a scrambled egg mixed with cheddar cheese, but she wouldn't eat. That was weird! What cat would resist egg with cheese?

She was smelly, one thing for sure. No lice; which is a good thing, since she had been roaming around beside the drains, under the cars, and only-God-knows-where. The fur is longer than any cats I've ever had before. Maybe the mother or father was Persian.

Photo: Who ever abandoned this darling?

I assume the kitten is in the region of one to three months. Being a small cat, she hasn't been exposed to many hardships and danger, and she's responding positively to fondles and cuddles. By the time I'm writing this entry, Madeleine is sleeping in the blue cat cage.

Madeleine... as an honour to my favourite Lebanese singer, the stunningly beautiful Madeleine Mattar.

Photo: As the Arabs say, hiya jamiilah jiddan jiddan (she's very, very beautiful)! [http://www.madeleinematter.com/]

[Note: This wonderful 'package' came on Tuesday, 3rd of August 2006.]

The Most Beautiful...

All of a sudden, my bad mood that resulted from having a bad day seemed to have been lifted away. What was left of me?

"Ni untuk you (This is for you)", Syam said after handing over a little box. I looked at him cynically, and then shifting my sight to the box. A box of Khind's Mosquito Killer. He was giving me a mosquito killer? What was that supposed to mean? Was that some kind of a joke?

"Bukalah (Open it)!" he urged me.

Slowly, I opened the light-weighted box. Taking it far away from my face, I stretched my neck to peek inside. Better be safe than sorry. I definitely wouldn't think a jack-in-the-box hitting my face as hilarious.

But then, there it was...

Under the dim light of Syam's car, right in front of my unbelieving eyes, a cockatiel chick was sitting quietly and motionlessly inside the box. I shrieked out of joy. At that moment, the vulnerable creature was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen!

My new 'baby' is a cinnamon cockatiel. Even though the top of the head and the backside are bald, the wings are fully weaned. Unlike other cinnamons I've seen, this one's colour is very much darker... and thus, more gorgeous!

Photo: Regardless of the baldness and clumsiness, I still think a cockatiel chick is adorable and cute!

Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise. You see... the initial plan was for Syam and I to meet David, a bird breeder who specializes only in cockatiels, the next day. An appointment was already made about a week in advance. Although I was a little disappointed of not getting to see his farm, I certainly wouldn't complain getting the precious little thing a day earlier than I thought.

"Is this David?" I asked the other person on the line just to make sure, when his number was dialled. "Hey, I've already got the bird! I like it so much!!"

"I'm glad you liked it!" he replied gleefully.

From the brief conversation, I learnt that the baby is approximately two months old. I also asked him how and what to feed the little birdie. That night, I came home smiling all the way.

And I've decided to call HER (hopefully, this time I'm right!) Caramel.

Photo: Staying calmly on my pareo. Baby Caramel's human mother makes a pledge to herself to take care of her with unconditional love from Friday, 28th of July onwards...