When Tham Yoo Yee lost her cat Mama, she was devastated beyond words. With only Tiger, her other cat to care for, she made up her mind that she wouldn’t replace Mama with another as the pain of losing yet another cat someday was too great to bear.
But, the universe had other plans.
While at home one day, two kittens timidly walked into her house and helped themselves to Tiger’s food. Tham assumed they were her neighbour’s. But seeing as they were always hungry, she began leaving food out for them.
Unfortunately, the worst happened and one of them died after being hit by a car. So Tham named the remaining one Didi, which means little brother in Chinese. He also bore a striking resemblance to Mama.
The kitten was initially shy but as time passed, Didi became friends with Tiger and the two formed a sibling-like bond.
“I named him Didi as I treat him sort of like a little brother to Tiger. I told him to love and respect Tiger as he shares his space and food with him, and he understands that,” Tham told FMT.
Didi also began to warm up to Tham, and has since grown to be an energetic, handsome and smart cat, much to her delight.
Tham said that Didi looks up to his big brother for everything, even mimicking his meow, sleeping where Tiger sleeps and playing with him at all hours of the day.
Ever the spirited one, Didi loves climbing the house grilles, imagining himself a nimble ninja cat, no doubt. He also loves to start his mornings lounging in front of the house, watching the birds chirp away on the trees.
The only spoiler to his peaceful days outside is the appearance of a big white tomcat that prowls the neighbourhood like a gangster. The moment Didi spots him, he splits the scene.
“This is why I think it’s important for strays to be neutered, as they tend to be less aggressive and territorial after, reducing the possibility of them picking fights. And the neighbourhood will be more peaceful,” Tham said, adding that neutering also helped control the stray population.
Inside the safety of his new home, Didi loves to nestle in Tham’s bed when it’s time to turn down for the night, claiming his spot next to her.
On certain days Didi will pick the sofa over the bed, just for the fun of it.
Recently, it seems that he has made a discovery: a small hill not far from home where the neighbours plant papaya and banana trees.
Tham said he has developed a habit of going there to play after breakfast, when everyone has left home for work.
“I guess when we are not at home, he enjoys his ‘me time’ in his secret garden.”