Many cat lovers who feel sorry for the strays in their neighbourhood take to feeding them on a regular basis. And it was during one of these feeds near her home that Hee Pei Yee met Dou Dou.
“We named her Dou Dou because her fur looks like potatoes with dirt on them. “Tu dou” in Chinese means potatoes, and the name slowly evolved into Dou Dou, which sounds cuter and more endearing,” Hee, 26, told FMT Lifestyle.
A veterinarian has estimated Dou Dou to be around two to three years old. Initially skinny and fearful, it took quite some time before Dou Dou lowered her guard and allowed Hee to pet her.
Little did Hee know at the time that Dou Dou was pregnant. And not long after, the sweet cat gave birth to three adorable kittens in her car porch.
However, the kittens were found dead the next morning and Hee said she suspected that it was the other stray cats in the area who did it. Hee said it was heartbreaking to see Dou Dou licking and sniffing at her kittens in the hope that they were still alive.
It was after this tragedy that Hee’s family adopted Dou Dou so she’d have a forever home with them.
A gentle and loving feline, Dou Dou does not like belly rubs however, and will give you a gentle bite if you try anyway.
Dou Dou can also be rather jealous at times, deliberately keeping her distance if she picks up the scent of other cats on Hee’s hands. “We think she’s not pleased with us when we interact with other cats,” Hee said, laughing.
Like most pets, Dou Dou is afraid of lightning, rain and firecrackers and ducks under the nearest couch for safety until silence reigns again. Oh, and she’s not that fond of children either and will scoot at the very sight or sound of them.
Quite the food connoisseur, Dou Dou loves chomping on meat and is happy to keep eating until she’s bloated. So, Hee makes it a point to only serve her only small portions at a time.
Not a fussy eater, she’s happy to eat any brand of kibbles and wet food – keep them coming, please! But she draws the line at durian. This is one smell she positively detests.
Not aloof like some cats, Dou Dou promptly responds whenever she hears her name called by either walking up to you or looking in your direction with an amused expression on her face.
Although she’s forbidden from sleeping on the living room couch, that’s precisely what she does. And most nights, the naughty feline can be found curled up fast asleep on the couch, her fine fur scattered all over the fabric.
She is also fascinated with corrugated boxes and loves spending time in them. “We usually change the boxes whenever we get a new one, and she seems to enjoy hanging out in them.”
This article was written by Toon Kit Yi @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
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