Haru’s Second Road Trip to Ipoh: A Brave Cat’s Journey

This Chinese New Year, our resilient pandemic cat, Haru, embarked on her second road trip with us to Ipoh to celebrate the festivities at my parents' house. While her first trip last year was unplanned and fraught with challenges, Haru’s progress this year has made me one proud cat mom.

Last year, Haru joined us on the road to Ipoh after a failed cat-boarding experience. She refused to eat, drink, or even relieve herself for two days, so I had no choice but to bring her home and take her along for the trip. It was a stressful ride—she meowed non-stop, and I had to let her out of her carrier and let her sit on my lap throughout the car ride to calm her down. Despite the challenges, Haru survived her first road trip like a champ.

Fast forward to this year, Haru showed significant improvement. She stayed calm and composed in her new astronaut backpack throughout the entire two-hour-plus journey, both to and from Ipoh. There was no incessant meowing or restlessness this time, and I didn’t have to take her out of the bag at all. Her growth in handling the trip was truly remarkable.

Upon arriving at my parents' house, Haru immediately reverted to her cautious nature, hiding under the bed—just like last year. For the first day, she remained in my bedroom, her safe haven. However, we gradually introduced her to family members, helping her get desensitized to new faces and surroundings.

By the second day, Haru started warming up to everyone. Sherilyn even coaxed her onto the couch to sit next to my younger brother, Roy. To our delight, Haru sat there quietly, observing my brother without hissing or retreating. It was a huge milestone for our timid cat.

On the third day in Ipoh, Haru surprised us once again by allowing my twin niece and nephew to touch her. While she didn’t permit anyone to carry her just yet, her willingness to engage with others without hissing or running away marked tremendous progress.

Haru’s adaptability and resilience continue to amaze me. This trip showed how far she’s come since her first road trip last year. I’m optimistic that by next year or our next visit to Ipoh, Haru will feel even more at ease in my parents' house and among my family members.

For now, I’m just proud of my brave little cat for stepping out of her comfort zone and making these small yet meaningful strides. Haru, you’ve come a long way, and I can’t wait to see how much more you’ll blossom in the future!

Outside our house, waiting to be brought to the car.

On our way to Ipoh. I unzipped half the bag for Haru to stick her head out for me to pet, but she remained inside the backpack throughout the car ride.

Haru sat next to my younger brother for almost an hour on the couch without hissing or running away. She just sat there staring at Roy while he watched TV 😂. I think she likes my brother.

A big achievement - Haru allowed my twin niece and nephew to get near her and pet her without hissing.

Haru slept between us at night. She first slept on her bed on the floor before jumping up to sleep with us. We were just too exhausted to kick her out and let her be for two nights.

One of the things that I dislike the most during CNY every year is the thunderous fireworks every single night for over 15 days, which would continue until the wee hours of the morning, especially on the Eve of CNY and on the Eve of Pai Ti Koong night. As a result, I've been losing sleep. Haru's been hiding in our room on most nights, sleeping on our bed, as she is terrified of the fireworks. 

The Joys and Perils of Being a Cat Parent

Today started off as a typical morning with Haru, our timid cat, until an unexpected incident turned it into a rather painful experience. As I lifted Haru off the floor to give her a cuddle, she suddenly slipped from my hands and landed awkwardly. I still can't quite figure out how it happened, but the mishap startled her so much that her claws instinctively came out, leaving me with some painful reminders of the ordeal.

Haru, being the scaredy and timid cat that she is, had her tail fluffed up in fright as she darted away into hiding. Meanwhile, I was left wincing in pain, only to look down and see the aftermath—bloody tears on my right thigh and multiple scratches across my inner left arm and elbow. The sight of the damage made me quickly spring into action. I washed the wounds thoroughly and applied antiseptic cream to prevent them from becoming inflamed.

Unfortunately, I’m allergic to Haru’s fur, and scratches from her claws tend to itch badly and sometimes become inflamed. However, I’ve learned from past experiences that prompt care is crucial. By applying antiseptic cream immediately and continuing treatment for several days, the wounds usually heal quickly. But for now, I’m nursing fresh injuries and trying to be extra cautious around Haru to avoid a repeat incident—especially on the same wounds. Ouch!

Despite the scratches and the occasional pain, being a pet parent comes with its share of joys and challenges. Haru is such a precious part of our family, and moments like these remind me that even the most loving pets have their instincts and fears. The key is learning how to adapt and be careful while enjoying their companionship.

So, what started as a cuddle session ended with a bit of drama, but it’s all part of the unpredictable journey of having pets. Haru may have startled me today, but she also reminds me every day why I adore her so much. And next time, I’ll be more mindful when picking her up—for both her sake and mine!

No thanks to Haru.

Cheeky girl. I tried to pretend to cry in front of Haru each time she hurt me and guess what? She would get really scared and run away 😂. She's nothing like those loving cats in videos that would comfort their sad and crying parents.

Haru, Our Happy Pill

Haru, our adorable pandemic cat, has an incredible ability to comfort and help us unwind, even though she doesn’t really do much. Her mere presence in our home is a source of joy and calmness that we cherish every day.

Sherilyn has been pulling all-nighters recently to prepare for her exams. The lack of sleep had left her feeling drained and blah. But then she saw Haru next to her early yesterday morning. Without a second thought, she picked Haru up for a cuddle. In no time, the two were taking silly welfies and Sherilyn was laughing. That simple interaction was enough to lighten Sherilyn’s mood and ease the stress that had been weighing her down.

Pets like Haru are truly precious. They don’t have to perform grand gestures or tricks to bring happiness into our lives. Just being there, curling up beside us, or letting us hold them can work wonders. Cuddling with them, feeling their soft fur, and hearing their soothing purrs can melt away stress and put a genuine smile on your face.

Haru is more than just a pet; she’s a little bundle of joy who brings warmth and peace into our home. And for that, we are endlessly grateful.

Trimming Haru's Razor Claws

Owning a spicy kitty like Haru means being on the receiving end of some pretty impressive scratches now and then, and I recently became a victim of her razor-sharp claws again! A few days ago, I was trying to keep up our tooth-wiping routine after her meal, which Haru barely tolerates. As usual, she was eager to escape, and in her struggle, her claws caught my arm, leaving me with a bloody, 12cm-long scratch. Ouch!

Getting her nails trimmed has always been a bit of a battle. Sherilyn, who usually helps me with these attempts, has been buried under her university assignments and dance rehearsals, and Cass was busy preparing for her exams and keeping up with her ice skating. This has left me on my own to manage Haru's nails, which are seemingly sharper each time I try!

A few weeks ago, I invested in a battery-operated pet nail clipper with LED light, hoping the extra light might make the process easier for both of us. Unfortunately, Haru isn’t interested in cooperating with any tool. I tried luring her with a bowl of kibbles while trying to snip away at her nails. This method let me trim a few nails at lightning speed, but once the kibbles were gone, she was off like a shot, with her claws still mostly untrimmed. The nail clipping turned into a two-part series and soon, it will be a three-part series.  I have to see who’s around tomorrow to help me finish it. I’m hoping an extra set of hands might make this less of a risky exercise.

Despite the scratches and the challenge, I know this is all part of being a pet parent. Trimming her nails may feel like a dangerous mission, but it's necessary to keep her comfortable and safe from any accidental scratches on herself, not just me. Here’s to hoping tomorrow brings a more successful nail-trimming session – wish me luck!

Blardy painful and it's starting to itch now.

Haru's favorite time of the day - mid-morning, where she does a brief sun-bathing at the corridor while I clean her litter box.

Sleepless Nights with Haru

Last night was another one of those nights where sleep evaded me, thanks to Haru. Though it doesn’t happen frequently, it does happen. 

In the wee hours of this morning, she persistently meowed outside my bedroom door. I tried to ignore it, but after several minutes of her insistent calls, I eventually caved in and opened the door to let her in.

Once inside, she made herself comfortable by jumping onto my bed. This has happened more than a few times now, and I’m still trying to figure out whether she’s just hungry or if her meowing is her way of checking to ensure I’m still alive and well. 

After settling on the bed, Haru began scratching at my blanket. I stopped her immediately, knowing exactly what she wanted—to crawl under the blanket to be nearer to me. It’s sweet, but I have reasons for being uncomfortable with this. As much as I love Haru, I’m allergic to her fur, and having her nestled under the covers with me would only worsen my allergies.

She seemed a bit disappointed when I didn’t let her under the blanket, but she stayed on the bed for a short while before eventually jumping off and walking out of the room. I felt a little guilty as she left, but I know I have to draw boundaries when it comes to sleep.  She walked away perhaps she was convinced that I was still alive 😺

As a cat owner, I adore Haru’s company and her little quirks, but when it comes to bedtime, I just can’t relax knowing she’s on the bed, especially under the blanket. I’ll always cherish our moments together, but for the sake of a good night’s sleep and my health, I’ll have to keep working on finding a balance!

My soul cat likes to sit on this stool near the bathroom and wait for me to come out.

Cuddles, Laughter, and Fake Eyelashes

Whenever Sherilyn comes home, her first instinct is always the same—she goes on a mission to find our beloved cat, Haru. Without fail, she picks her up and gives her the biggest cuddle, kisses her, and squeezing her tight as though Haru were a plush toy. Poor Haru, being the independent and non-affectionate cat that she is, barely tolerates this for a minute before squeezing her way out of Sherilyn’s arms. Haru has never been a fan of extended cuddles, preferring her personal space and short moments of affection. But Sherilyn, filled with love and excitement after a long day, can never resist showering her with more attention than Haru can handle.

Last week, after Sherilyn's win at the Asia Open Dance Championship, where she secured the gold medal in the modern contemporary (solo) event for her age group, she came home in an exceptionally good mood. She removed her fake eyelashes from the competition and, still buzzing with happiness, decided to goof around with Haru. In her playful state, she attached the fake eyelashes to Haru’s eyes, and we both burst into laughter at the sight. Haru looked absolutely hilarious, but her expression clearly showed her confusion at being the center of this little joke. I felt bad for her after a few minutes and asked Sherilyn to quickly take the fake eyelashes off.

Despite our antics, Haru remains the heart of our home. Her calm presence and adorable loafing around the house bring us so much joy, even when we’re in a bad mood. There are days when I find myself feeling frustrated or upset about something, but Haru’s quiet charm and comforting aura instantly ease the tension. It’s as if she knows exactly how to diffuse my anger and calm my nerves.

Haru may not love long cuddles or too much fuss, but she brings a special kind of warmth into our lives.  We can’t help but spoil our little fur baby, even when it means accidentally subjecting her to a few minutes of fake eyelash drama! 😆

We love Haru so much, and it’s a joy to have her loafing around the house, being her quiet, intelligent self. She's the little glue that keeps our home filled with laughter and peace.

Still groggy from being woken up from her sleep, Haru didn't resist the silly fake eyelashes stuck to her eyes by her sister.

Two Heart-Stopping Scares, Courtesy of Haru!

Today, Haru, my mischievous fur baby, gave me not one but two heart-stopping scares! She’s not usually mischievous, but today, she took things to a whole new level. It was like she decided to put my patience and nerves to the ultimate test. Here’s what happened:

The first scare happened in the kitchen when Cass got home from school. We were reheating her lunch, and I had left a glass container with chicken on the counter. Little did I know that Haru was stealthily plotting her next move. As I turned my back to put the food in the microwave, Haru struck. With her ninja-like agility, she jumped up to the counter and snatched a big piece of chicken—bones and all!

Before I could even react, Haru darted under the island table, growling like a feral dog with her prize in her mouth. I panicked. Chicken bones can be dangerous for cats, and I was terrified she might swallow a sharp piece and hurt herself. I shouted at Haru, but she was determined to hold on to her stolen treasure and growled away simultaneously.

Cass wanted to pull Haru out from under the table, but I quickly stopped her. Haru, in her possessive state, might lash out, and the last thing I wanted was for her to bite Cass. While I was desperately trying to coax Haru out, I could hear the ominous sound of crackling bones as she began to chew on the chicken. My heart sank.

Thinking fast, I grabbed some chicken breast (her absolute favorite) and placed it in her bowl, hoping it would lure her out. Thankfully, it worked! Haru came out, and I swiftly took the dangerous chicken away and discarded it. Crisis averted! She eagerly gulped down the chicken breast, completely unaware of the chaos she had just caused. Honestly, Haru is crazy about chicken breasts. I had already given her some earlier, but when it comes to her favorite food, she doesn’t seem to know when to stop.

Later in the day, the second scare happened. I couldn’t find Haru anywhere in the house. Maria, our part-time maid, had stepped out briefly to throw the garbage in the refuse chamber, and I panicked, thinking Haru might have run out. Maria and I searched frantically, calling for her, shaking her can of kibbles, and knocking her bowl, all the usual tricks that would bring Haru running. But this time, there was no response.

For about five minutes, we were searching everywhere, and I was convinced Haru had either escaped or worse. My mind went wild with thoughts—had she climbed into the washing machine without me noticing and I had started the washing machine? Or could she have crawled into the garbage bag in search of chicken and been thrown out by Maria? My imagination was running in overdrive.

Just as I was about to lose hope, Haru finally emerged from her hiding place. Relief washed over me, but I couldn’t help but scold her for giving me such a fright. It’s a wonder how such a small creature can cause so much stress in a single day!

In one day, Haru gave me two massive scares. I truly hope these heart-stopping incidents won’t become a regular occurrence!

Naughty baby. Alycia bought this cat cap for Haru.  Did I tell you that Alycia is one of Haru's favorite humans besides her dad?  From someone terrified of cats and furry animals, Alycia has now overcome her phobia of cats. She loves Haru 💓

Haru, Our Feline Foodie

Much like her human counterparts, Haru possesses a discerning palate and a love for certain foods. While some may expect a cat to be content with traditional cat food, Haru surprises us with her eclectic tastes. She shares our love for roast chicken breast, grilled salmon, and saba fish, eagerly devouring these savory delights whenever they are offered. And mind you, the roast chicken that she loves must be from a specific stall (which is our favorite stall) and not any other stalls or she will turn her nose up at the chicken meat. This is because some chicken rice stall owners marinate their chickens with five-spice powder and other seasonings, which Haru doesn't like. She likes plain chicken roasted, with an aromatic charred chicken taste.

Sniffing her favorite sourdough bread.

However, Haru's culinary preferences extend beyond typical cat fare. Unlike many cats, she turns her nose up at steamed fish, opting instead for breads, paus, and anything made from dough and yeast. Her fondness for sourdough bread and sourdough products, with its tangy flavor profile, is particularly surprising. Last week, I was astonished to discover that she even enjoys my healthy flour-free sprouted wheat bread, a healthier alternative to traditional bread.

Haru is obsessed with my flour-free sprouted wheat bread. The moment she hears the 'ting' sound from the air fryer and the aroma of toasted sprouted wheat bread wafting in the air, she will excitedly run to the kitchen in anticipation of a small treat. Even deep in her sleep, the smell of toasted bread can wake her up in an instant.

One common thread in Haru's food preferences seems to be her affinity for foods containing yeast. Whether it's the texture of bread or the tangy taste of sourdough, Haru's fondness for yeast-laden foods is undeniable. However, I must be mindful of her sensitive digestive system, as excessive consumption of gluten-rich foods can lead to digestive issues such as diarrhea and even vomiting.

While I delight in indulging Haru's culinary curiosities, I must also prioritize her health and well-being. Finding a balance between her favorite treats and foods that agree with her digestive system is essential. It took me more than two years to discover what her guts agreed to and how her meals should be tailored to every day.  By offering her a variety of options and monitoring her intake, I ensure that Haru can continue to enjoy her favorite foods without compromising her health.

Haru also loves Beacon seaweed pure chicken essence. I share a little with her each time I drink it.  This is too expensive to give her the entire packet. It costs almost RM20 for an 80ml packet (less than half a  soup bowl).

Traveling With A Cat On A Road Trip

When hubby and I made the tough decision to bring Haru back from the cat boarder's house just a day before our trip to Ipoh to celebrate CNY, I was already mentally and physically prepared for it.  I had already done a lot of reading on bringing a cat in tow for a road trip.  I read up since the lockdowns were lifted and I knew that one day I would have to bring Haru back to Ipoh with me. 

In fact, during one of our trips back to Ipoh last year, I bought chain link fencing and fixed it to the door of Haru's room, which is a room outside our bedroom. The area where Haru will be roaming was already cat-proofed.  

For the trip, I only had to bring Haru's spare litter box, clean litter + a bit of existing litter from her KL litter box (for the familiarity of scent), her food, chemical-free wet wipes, disposable waterproof papers, disposable gloves, and her carrier. 

But I forgot to bring her litter spade to scoop her pee & poop!!!!  Because it was an eleventh-hour decision to bring Haru back due to a failed boarding, I wasn't 100% thorough with her checklist of things. So I had to improvise with a tiny disposable takeaway spoon and disposable gloves each time I cleaned her litter! That was disgusting ok, having to scoop her big chunk of pee with my hands. As we were out of the house most of the time for reunion lunches and dinners, I didn't have the time to buy a litter spade or search for my dad's gardening spade for it. 

Now I know I will not forget to bring the litter spade with me the next time we travel with Haru again!

To ensure that Haru would not throw up in the car, I fed Haru at least two hours before our journeys, and I woke up at 4.45 a.m. to feed my baby as our journey started at 7-ish in the morning. I also had to coax her to pee and poo before the car ride but this was unsuccessful.  When Haru was in Ipoh, she was having anxiety as she was in a new environment with so many new faces, especially my two squealing and overzealous twin nephew and niece who badly wanted to touch Haru.  She was hiding under the bed most of the time. Whenever Haru is anxious, she wouldn't pee or poo, just like how she was when she was at the cat boarder's house for two days. She didn't pee or poo nor eat or drink for two whole frigging days. This crushed my heart as I was observing Haru almost 24/7 from the CCTV on my phone.

Cute Haru sticking her head out of her carrier in our car. She did pretty well on her road trips. 

Monday, 19 February 2024 ~ Haru's Annual Vaccination and Homemade Siew Yoke

Sherilyn doesn't have to go to college today, so I jumped at the opportunity to get her to accompany me to bring Haru to the vet's clinic.  Haru's due for her annual vaccination and bi-yearly deworming pill. As I'm the one driving, I need someone to carry Haru in the car.

Inside her usual tote bag, snugged under Sherilyn's armpit.

Haru behaved really well, wasn't trembling as bad as the previous time, and only hissed briefly at the vet. She didn't cry when jabbed on her thigh.

Back home, Sherilyn spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen, whipping up a big pot of Korean pork and kimchi stew and making Siew Yoke (roast pork) for the first time.

Super delish Siew Yoke with crackling crispy skin.  

I'd give Sherilyn a 100% rating for her Siew Yoke. Excellent job for someone making it for the first time. She randomly googled for a recipe and tweaked the recipe with whatever spices she could find in the larder.

Chinese New Year 2024

The last time we celebrated CNY in Ipoh was in February 2020, the year Covid gripped the world and changed things forever. Exactly four years later, we were back again to have a wonderful reunion with my family.  

This CNY is a little extra memorable as we brought Haru along with us. After a failed boarding for Haru, we had no choice but to lug her along with us to Ipoh. And I have no regrets about it. I managed to desensitize Haru's phobia of car rides and I'm still working on desensitizing her fear of meeting new people.  With Haru in Ipoh with us, I needn't have to worry about her having a harrowing time (hunger strike with no peeing and pooping) at the catsitter's place.

Haru was kept inside my bedroom most of the time. I placed her carrier and bed on the floor but this fella decided to sleep in between us on our bed at night despite me kicking her out of our bed umpteen times till I gave up out of exhaustion.

Chor 2 brunch of Dim Sum at Kok Thai Restaurant with my family before we headed to the Yaps' family house for 'Hoi Neen Fan'

Ang Pow gifting session.

We had an early birthday celebration for Sherilyn and bought a cake from JJ Swiss Roll.  Sherilyn was born on the eighth day of Chinese New Year 19 years ago.

The pandan chocolate cake from JJ Swiss Roll was super delish and not overly sweet or cloying.

Haru My Therapy Cat

I thought my days of hiding in the wet kitchen to eat junk food and ice creams were way behind me as I would never have any more babies. But ever since our Pandemic Cat came into our lives almost 3 years ago, I have had to start hiding in the wet kitchen to eat certain foods again, as silent as a mouse, lest this cat with bionic ears hears me.  

But alas, I can never hide from this super cat with bionic ears and nose. No matter how hard I try to hide from her and how quietly I eat my chicken, cakes, breads, and paus, this wai sake mau (greedy cat) will always find out, even though she's deep in her sleep, or so I thought.  She then nonchalantly catwalks into the wet kitchen as stealthily as a ninja and then gives me a shock by scratching her claws on the metal kitchen door or brushing her tail against my leg, as if to chide me for hiding from her when I eat her favorite food 😅

The reason why I have to hide from Haru whenever I eat certain foods is because Haru has very sensitive guts. She cannot overeat and is allergic to grains. She will be down with diarrhea and vomiting if I overfed her. 

After almost 3 years, Haru still loves crawling into plastic bags, paper bags, and small cardboard boxes, contorting her body inside, and thinking that no one can see her.

Haru meets a veggie worm for the first time. The worm is from my organic spinach.

My Therapy Cat

This morning, I inadvertently knocked over Haru's food bowl whilst prepping her breakfast, spilling the wet fish food all over the kitchen floor. Not only did the floor become a mess, but my dress also got coated with bits of fish. Haru, who had been eagerly awaiting her breakfast, wasted no time seizing the opportunity and began licking up the scattered food from the floor.

While Haru diligently cleaned the floor with her tongue, I hurriedly changed my soiled dress and gave it a brief rinse. Upon returning, I was astonished to find that Haru had nearly completed the task, having meticulously licked up every trace of fish from the floor. Observing Haru in action was nothing short of comical. She really amuses me every day with different antics 😸

Haru Our Lizard Hunter

My beloved Haru has always had a few quirks that make her an unpredictable and entertaining furry companion. One morning, Haru decided to add a new chapter to her list of surprises. Little did I know that I was in for quite the unexpected and blood-curdling wake-up call.

It started like any other morning. I woke up at 5.30 and the first thing that I did was to look for Haru. She always finds her cozy spot on my chair during the night. However, on this particular morning, she was nowhere to be found.

A mild sense of curiosity gave way to growing concern as I realized that Haru's usual morning perch was conspicuously empty. Wondering where she had gone, I began searching the house. It wasn't until I entered the kitchen that I discovered the source of her disappearance.

There, on the cold kitchen floor, sat Haru, a portrait of feline nonchalance. But it wasn't her presence that startled me; it was the lifeless body beside her. She had killed a lizard, and the poor creature had met an untimely end.

The sight was enough to send shivers down my spine. The lizard lay there, flattened and bloodied, a testament to Haru's hunting prowess. Though I had always been grateful for her skills in keeping pests at bay, this unexpected gift was not exactly the pleasant surprise I had hoped for.

Next was the dreaded clean-up and there was no escaping it—I had to face the daunting task of removing the lizard's lifeless body and its detached tail from the floor. Armed with disposable plastic gloves and several layers of toilet paper, I gingerly picked up the limp remains. It was a task I had never envisioned myself doing, but there I was, cleaning up the aftermath of Haru's morning adventure in the kitchen with disinfectant. I think she must have had a whale of a time throughout the night playing and eventually killing the lizard. Thank goodness she didn't chomp down the lizard.  

Despite my initial shock and discomfort, I couldn't help but feel grateful for Haru's unintended act of pest control. Lizards and insects had long been a common sight in our home, much to my chagrin. However, ever since Haru joined our household, their numbers have dwindled significantly.

Haru is a true predator, a fierce and relentless hunter who takes her job seriously. She has become our guardian against these unwanted guests, and for that, I owe her a debt of gratitude.

Proud look on her face.

Replacing Haru's scratchboard with a new one is a bimestrial routine. She can get really rough with the scratchboard and totally wreck it when she's having the zoomies.  In my storeroom is a stash of replacement boards, which I usually purchase from Lazada.

Naughty (and very smart) fella and we all love her to bits. 

Haru, Our Heroic Feline That Saved the Day

Pets have a remarkable way of becoming an integral part of our lives, and often, they go above and beyond to look out for us. Today Haru, turned into a hero by saving us from a potential disaster. 

It was a typical afternoon, and I was indulging in a much-needed siesta on my work chair. However, my peaceful nap was interrupted by an insistent scratching sound on my chair. Haru, my smart and perceptive cat was busily scratching away at my expensive office chair.

Haru knows me well, and she's well aware that I don't appreciate her scratching my chair. So to get what she wants (which is always her meals and snacks), she will scratch on my office chair till I get up from the chair and attend to her needs. And there was no exception today.

With Haru's relentless scratching, I couldn't ignore her any longer. I reluctantly pushed myself up from my chair, feeling drowsy and disoriented. As I stood up, I noticed something alarming—a faint smell of burning. Panic surged through me as I realized something was amiss. I rushed to the kitchen and lo and behold, I found an empty pot sitting on the stove, its burner still turned on, flames dancing beneath it. Someone had heated up some soup and after pouring the soup into her bowl, had forgotten to turn off the stove.

I quickly turned off the burner and let out a sigh of relief and it was then that it hit me: Haru had saved the day. She had sensed the danger from the burning smell, with her persistent scratching, awakened me just in time to prevent a catastrophe.

I turned to Haru, my eyes filled with gratitude and love. I scooped her into my arms, hugging her tightly. Her cleverness and unwavering determination have kept us safe today.  Bravo to Haru!

Haru's favorite morning past-time: sun-bathing at whichever spot in the house that has sunlight 😸

A Tale of Unexpected Culprits

Have you ever been caught in a whirlwind of mysterious disappearances, leading you to suspect those closest to you? Such was the case when my eyebrow pencil went missing for an entire week. In my quest for answers, suspicions arose, and poor Maria, my part-time helper, became the prime suspect. However, as the truth unfolded, it became clear that our mischievous feline friend, Haru, held the key to the puzzle.

The vanishing acts began a year ago when Cass lost her expensive ear pods. The search for these prized possessions proved fruitless, and the ear pods remained missing for many months. 

The mystery deepened when my mother-in-law discovered that two of her favorite knives with teeth had vanished from the kitchen. The sudden disappearance left us perplexed, and our suspicions turned toward Maria, who had been present during these incidents. 

The situation escalated further when a relative who lives below our unit and used to employ Maria for part-time service lost one of her two mobile phones and suspected foul play. The blame seemed to fall squarely on Maria's shoulders, yet the truth had a different story to tell.

After months of anguish over the missing mobile phone, our relative finally found it lying on the floor of her car recently. It was an unexpected turn of events that shed light on a hidden truth. 

And Sherilyn recently found Cass’ missing ear pods behind the piano!

The revelation put an end to the clouds of suspicion surrounding Maria.

Just when we thought the mystery was solved, my long-lost eyebrow liner suddenly resurfaced from beneath my bed today. The relief was palpable, but our curiosity remained. How could all these items have gone missing without a trace, only to be discovered in such unexpected places?

In a surprising twist, our mischievous cat, Haru, emerged as the true culprit behind the disappearing act.  I suspect that Haru, with her playful nature, had apparently climbed onto the piano and played with the ear pods until they fell behind the piano.  I also believe that she had climbed up my dressing table to play with my eyebrow pencil, swiped it, and caused it to roll under my bed.

Our furry friend had unknowingly caused all the commotion and turmoil, leaving us feeling both relieved and slightly amused by her antics.

The revelation of Haru's mischief filled us with mixed emotions. We felt relieved for Maria who had been wrongly accused and suspected. And as for Haru, our playful cat, we can't help but love her even more for adding a touch of unexpected adventure to our lives.

This experience served as a valuable lesson, teaching us the importance of refraining from hasty judgments and cultivating trust in our relationships.

Mischievous kitty but love her to bits.

Haru Our Cheeky Kitty

Haru loves to find new places inside the house, to hide. Most times she will come out of hiding when I shake her biscuit jar or mention "biscuit" or "chicken", her favorite foods. 

Early this week, this cheeky kitty ignored my calls for her.   Both Cass and I went around the house searching for her, for about 10 minutes, at all her usual hiding spots, but she was no where to be found.  I went to the refuse chamber outside our unit to look for her, I checked the emergency stairs outside our unit, the two balconies, under the beds, but she was no where to be found. We were convinced that Haru had sneaked out of the house and gone forever. 

That feeling I had felt familiar. It was the sick feeling whenever I lost sight of my girls at the shopping mall when they were younger.  That few seconds of loosing sight of them and yelling out to them, only to get no answer from them.  That horrible sick feeling in the stomach and head just thinking that they were kidnapped or lost forever.  Speaking of which, Sherilyn used to like hiding inside racks of clothes at the shopping mall to scare the living daylights out of me when she was younger.  That mischievous brat! 😂

One of Haru's favorite hiding spots - behind the living room curtain.

Another new favorite hiding spot - under Cass' bed

Yet another new hiding spot - on the bookshelf. She kind of camo herself with the shelf because of her color.

Naughty fella always causes me panic attacks but love her to bits.

This Week In Photos ~ Food, Family & Pet Cat

With 6 papers done and dusted, the SPM girl has 3 more papers to conquer.  Nine more days to go and she'll be free!  

After her SPM exam, Sherilyn will resume dancing, cook for us again and work part-time at Front Room  Cafe again.  She previously worked at the cafe for about half a year before taking half a year's break to focus on her SPM exam.

We will only discuss the course to pursue in college and university after Sherilyn's SPM results are out.  Colleges and universities have been sending letters to offer her courses to pursue.  Last month she received a letter from a college that provides training to students aiming to be cabin crew and pilots, inviting her to attend an interview.

Yesterday Sherilyn received a letter from Unikop, which offered her a list of 'interesting' courses to pursue.  Unikop is a college owned by the Royal Malaysian Police Cooperation. Some of the 'interesting' courses are Diploma in Police and Investigation, Investigation Services, Corporate Investigation, Law Enforcement, Psychology, Pharmacy, Cyber Security, and many more.  

Letter from Unikop

I thought that these courses are not what Sherilyn would like to pursue but to my surprise, she told me that she doesn't mind pursuing courses in forensics, crime investigation and even being a detective or CID in future 😂😆

While I know that this daughter of mine is a dare-devil and tough inside out, I would not want her to be in this field that is more apt for the opposite sex. We had a good laugh over this and were talking about how her life would be if she were a cop or detective and investigating cases like Abby Choi's gruesome murder 😆

I took Sherilyn and Cass out for brunch on Thursday as the SPM girl didn't have any paper to sit for on that day and also the next day.  We went to The Lion of Punjab, a restaurant in our hood that serves delicious North Indian cuisine. Our family loves Indian food.

We ordered the Thali sets, which are value meal sets at only RM10 for a meat-free set lunch and RM15 for a set lunch with chicken.  

Sherilyn and Cass each ordered the set lunch with chicken curry.  It comes with three different types of lip-smacking curry, two pieces of Tandoori Roti, a bowl of rice, and a sweet wheat dessert (Halwa).

This is my vegetarian set.

The food was superb, though they were only budget meals.  The curries were thick, creamy, and full of aromatic herbs, spices, and ingredients.  The Tandoori roti was simple and delish. We were even served long-grain Basmathi rice, which is costlier than regular rice.  All the spicy food was washed down with a hot cup of aromatic Masala Chai tea. We will definitely be back for another round of set lunch before school starts again for Cass in two weeks.

The vegetarian set.

And non-vegetarian set.

I'm going to try their different types of stuffed Naan bread next week and will get the food delivered to our condo as the restaurant is offering free delivery to those staying in the hood.

Our sweet girl Haru's new favorite spot. She loves to sit here so that she can look down to see the world below her. 

Haru knows that grandma is not around (currently in Penang and Ipoh) and has been more daring around the house - she climbs up the kitchen island to inspect the toaster oven, jumps up the kitchen counters to sniff our food, jumps up our beds, and feels so at home when her grandma is not around to scold her when she's naughty 😸

Haru Turns Two!

We're not exactly sure when Haru was born but we guess that she was born circa the end of December 2020 or the first few days of 2021. When hubs first discovered Haru and her siblings outside his office doorstep, it was in mid-January 2021. Sherilyn and I first went to see the kittens on 15 January 2021. Haru and his siblings were about two weeks old.

15 January 2021 ~ Our first time meeting Haru. It was love at first sight for me. Out of the six kittens in the litter, Haru was the cutest and the most active, and the nosiest. She was also a spicy cat from day one, hissing at us each time we went to see the kittens.

So we decided to make the date 31 December Haru's birthday, a day after hubby's birthday.

Sherilyn made a birthday cake for Haru's 2nd birthday. It's composed of Haru's wet food, grain-free kibbles, and creamy treat.  

The kibbles were pounded using a dough roller, then mixed with wet food, and molded into a cake shape using a circular tart ring.  Haru's name and the number '2' are made up of creamy cat treat.

Haru couldn't contain her excitement when she saw the cake and loved it!  We gave her half for supper and the other half for breakfast the next day.

Haru has been a huge joy in our lives ever since she came into our home two years ago. I should have known earlier that cats are just as awesome as dogs!