Subject: The story of Wednesday
Dear friends
I would like to share with you the story of Wednesday the cat.
I call him Wednesday as I found him on 6 Jan 2010, a Wednesday, near Blk 690 Jurong West Central area.
He was lying under a bench in a darkly lit corner by a path taken by many people to and from work everyday.
That fateful night, I caught sight of Wednesday, a black cat, lying motionless and staring into the blank space before him.
I called him softly. Wednesday did not respond.
He wore a collar, and looked very tame.
I noticed his thighs and legs were covered in crusty, sticky slime, and thought it was dried mud or soil.
I gave Wednesday some kibble but he did not eat any.
I took out a tissue and started to clean him. As I cleaned, I realised it was poo and urine that he was soaked in. A lot of it.
When I rubbed harder, Wednesday let out a cry, telling me it was painful.
It was useless, there was too much poo and pee on him to clean properly.
I nudged Wednesday to see if he could move. He did not no matter how I tried.
It was too dark for me to see what I was wrong with him. But it was obvious he was very sick.
I decided to go home 1st. As I walked off, Wednesday lied there silently. He did not look at me but just stared into space just like I found him. There was an uncomfortable sadness in his eyes. A pain and hopelessness that I could not forget.
I knew if I ignored him and walked off like that, Wednesday would simply sit there and wait for death to claim him.
So I went home, got my carrier, and came back with my mum again.
As my mum gently lifted Wednesday into the carrier, I saw a tube sticking out from his penis.
I pulled it out. It was about 10cm long.
Later we found out it was a urinary catheter.
We rushed Wednesday to the vet in a cab.
The smell in the cab was so bad, the cabbie had to wind down his windows.
Wednesday was literally rotting.
At the vet, I could see the plight of Wednesday clearly.
The lower half of his body was soaked in poo and pee for an extended time. The acidic urine had literally 'burned' his fur and skin.
His testicles were swollen and infected.
His front right leg was shaved, a sign that he could have had an injection or put on drip before.
The sight was hard to endure, the stench unbearable, and the pain unspeakable.
I took pictures of him (pls see attachments).
It was plain to see that Wednesday was suffering.
Wednesday was hospitalised and had to be cleaned gradually as it was too much pain for him.
7 Jan morning. It was pouring heavily on my way to work.
I couldn't imagine how it would be like for Wednesday if he was still lying under the bench where I found him.
The clinic cleaned up Wednesday and found serious infections on his skin due to the urine burns.
Wednesday was badly dehydrated and had to be put on drip.
He would not eat and must be force-fed.
8 Jan late morning. The vet called to say that Wednesday had 'crashed' twice.
They had to resuscitate him to keep him alive. He was slipping into a coma and unable to register anything.
The blood test showed that his white blood count was too low, a mere 0.7 out of a normal 5.5.
There weren't enough white blood cells to fight off the infection in his blood.
From the extent of the urine burns, Wednesday had likely been lying in his poo and pee for about 10 days.
The urine catheter inserted in his penis (could be treatment for urinary track infection or bladder problem) had introduced bacteria into his body.
The vet prepared me for the worst. The 3rd crash might come very soon, and it was perhaps better to let him go than prolong his agony. Minutes before noon, Wednesay passed away. He was estimated to be about 4 to 5 years old.
I saw Wednesday for the last time and ask that he be cremated.
It was difficult to fight back the tears.
At least now, Wednesday has left this suffering body and is no longer in pain.
I hope he had felt peace in his dying moments.
And if it is meant to be, I hope this story reaches the owners of Wednesday, so they know how much Wednesday suffered.
I do not know if Wednesday had strayed from home and ended up in the streets, or was deliberately left to die out there for he was too much trouble.
I guess only Wednesday and his owners know the truth.
Regards
HG
Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.
- Cree Indian Prophecy
Read The Songkok Kitten
