Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

With my apologies to Marky for bringing up cats in "his" string.

Don,

Hey Tintin,
You didn't tell us how your cat sent you to the hospital twice........
Story, story story............

Mimi was a feral cat which had been in my neighborhood for almost a year. He was very elusive, and neighbors told me they had tried to feed him, without success: he would run a.s.a. he saw a human. I started feeding him twice daily, last December (a very snowy month in Boston, when we broke the record with 27+ inches of snow). I could only watch him from my window, as he would only come to eat when he was sure there was no human presence. Progress was made by leaps and bounds and in April he finally made contact with me. I had set his bowl by the door of my covered breezeway, and sat at the opposite end. Each day I would bring my chair closer to the bowl, and on the fourth morning, he just by-passed the food, jumped on my lap, and started paw-pawing, purring, and "marking" me (in the process, he also covered me with lots of his white hair). Boy, was he a mess! Skinny, his hair all matted and dry. Few days later, during the same routine, it nipped my thumb and drew blood. This led to my going to the Emergencies at the hospital to start an anti-rabies series of shots (we have rabid raccoons, foxes, in the area). In the meantime, we met twice a day (but, just in case, I was wearing gloves), and after 10 days, I stopped the shots, since it was obvious Mimi was not rabid.

I took Mimi in my household few weeks later (not an easy task, with two other cats, including an alpha-male! And he was scared of my wife…).

My other two cats go outdoor but under supervision. There are coyotes in the neighborhood that already have taken care of several cats. Early September, I decided that I could now "trust" Mimi and took him out couple of times. The third time, he started taking off in the wrong direction several times and I tried to set him straight (Turkish angoras are known to be very stubborn), and in trying to cut its path, I stumbled on a stone, caught myself with my right arm on a small tree, but Newton got the best of me, and in the process I tore the distal tendon of my right biceps. So, back to the hospital for repairs: operation, 6 weeks in a cast and now in rehab. Actually, in a sense, it was not Mimi's fault if I am that clumsy, so I should not blame him, but if he had not been so stubborn...

Anyway, since this is a Bali Forum, we should talk about Bali cats. So, here are the pictures of 3 Balinese cats who lived at my friend's house , in Nyuh Kuning.

Jeruk is my favorite. Manis, the female, was so jealous of him: when I held him, she would come over and pull on the cuff of a leg of my trousers. And when I finally put Jeruk down, she would let him know what she thought about the whole affair…I also found her often in my bed at night, and when I tried to kick her out, she would spit and hiss at me: at least, if not for female human, I must be at least the ideal type for female cats…

Tin,
Isn't it interesting, the physical differences between the native cats of the northeastern US and Indonesia? Northeastern cats being shorter in the legs and thicker throughout their bodies and heads, probably to retain as much life-giving heat as possible in the foul conditions we endure here. Indonesian cats have a thinner body overall, with narrow heads are longer in the legs and somewhat roach backed, most likely an evolutionary adaptation to contend with the insufferable equatorial heat.

So much to observe in this life, it's a wonder people complain of being bored.

The Don

It's much simpler than that, Don. Each of my cats eat about 300 - 350 calories per day, with a good diet of all the necessary vitamins to grow and remain healthy. The 3 Balinese cats eat a little bit of rice and one small fish each day (plus any tikus or geko they can catch).

Every night, outside my window in surabaya, sometime between the hours of 1am and 4am, street cats get into a 'street brawl' and seemingly try to kill each other.. I first mistook the noise for a cat being killed and eaten by a snake, but have since observed what exactly transpires..

Jimbo, I don't know how accurate it would be to suggest that unconditional love is a common virtue amongst human beings - outside of direct family relationships, and I guess that really too depends on the family..

Ct

Jimbo, seeing things on what human does to other human beings makes it hard to believe that we are the 'more noble' animals. Even amongst family, there is often not much love

Anyway, I first received these photos in an email. I am touched of how proud the chimp seems to be as though she is a proud mother.
http://www.funtim.com/dgb.html

Jimbo, seeing things on what human does to other human beings makes it hard to believe that we are the 'more noble' animals. Even amongst family, there is often not much love

Kadek it is not very often if at all I disagree with you but the fact is there is no such thing as a "noble" animal. They have a desire to eat, procreate and sleep. Sure they can be affection there but only IMO on a very basic level. See a pack turn on its "own" and kill it or a mating ritual that denies all of the weaker members and you will not have such a vision.

There are no animals that I am aware of outside human beings who have written great music, literature, painted great painting and given millions away in a philanthropic gesture to name but a few.

Do not get me wrong I am not anti animals (perhaps anti pets a little) but I am more pro human beings. I just wish that all of the oohs and aahs over cats and dogs was transferred to something more appropiate.

Still I understand that millions of you feel the way you do and I would defend your right to do so.

Jimbo,

Your reflex is very common, and not totally wrong. However, you can be compassionate toward BOTH human beings and animals: one does not exclude the other. Every little bit counts, but there is so much misery in the world, it's seems, and it IS hopeless.

When my cat Socrates showed up at my door, hungry and scared, how could I refuse to help him? He had been discarded or just had run away from his home. Now he needed help or he wouldn't have survived long outside. Mimi had survived somehow for a relative long time (he is very smart), but he was also condemned to a miserable life and a painful death. So, how could I not help him? I know that, when looking at the whole picture, it does not register an iota on the universe's bulletin board. However, when I knew they both were outside, in the cold, and I could do something about it, how could I turn away?

They have a desire to eat, procreate and sleep. Sure they can be affection there but only IMO on a very basic level.

When my late grandmother was a young girl she tripped on a railway line near Auckland. She caught her ankle under the rail and could not get it out or move as it was twisted. Her Labrador tried to pull her out but could not. So it ran back home and grabbed the trousers of my great grandfather and pulled him in the direction of the train tracks, thus saving her life (and allowing me to happen if you will). That is more than very basic affection and I know there are scores of stories out there like that.

Jimbo,

Yes animals are unlike humans, animals don’t have the desire to rape, con, steal, lie, murder, gamble, run wall street, run brothels, sell drugs or destroy mother earth and ultimately themselves.

Animals love, care for their communities, provide balance to the ecology and evolve with perfection.

So if we don’t appreciate animals, why bother even appreciating any other life forms? Shall we not think much of the trees or rivers ? because they don’t produce works of art, concertos, literature or give millions away in philanthropic gesture. Trees don’t need you, you need the trees. Animals don’t need you, you need the animals. (you eat them you wear them, don’t you ?).

Please read more Jimbo, you may like to begin with Steven. J. Gould.
Any volume will do.

Our attitude to animals reflects our attitude to ourselves because
we are animals !

Yes animals are unlike humans, animals don’t have the desire to rape, con, steal, lie, murder, gamble, run wall street, run brothels, sell drugs or destroy mother earth and ultimately themselves.

Chilli

I remember you leaving this forum once because of a discussion on animals and I know how strongly you feel about them. In the animal world of free live animals all of the above is practiced. They do rape con, murder and steal from each other whilst obviously they do not practice the human traits of running wall street etc.

Perhaps you will allow me to feel the same way about humans and the misery that befalls them and which I happen to believe could be alleviated by spending the money from the billions of dollars that is spent by pet lovers on their pets.

It is however my opinion and you are entitled to yours in the same way but kindly do not berate me or insult my intelligence because you have a love for animals.

We recently had a long discussion on Balinese dogs....I just happen to believe the balinese attitude is the correct one i.e indifference not deliberate cruelty.

I have no more to add on this subject as my views are well known so lets just agree to differ. Finally I am biologically a mammal but I believe the human race has risen above the animal state although I would be the first to agree it does not look like that at times. Take care.

Talking of animals I have 4 new fish and two new hampsters

I beleive that Marty will benefit from learning to care for pets.

I always had pets as a child, so maybe for some it is what you are used to or grew up with. I also often looked after animals for an animal rescue centre near my home, mostly, pigeons and sparrows but at one time a kestrel.

As Chilli said if we only take care of the people, what happens to the planet?

Help me out folks OK, your noble balinese dog, that' right the one that gets all the bleeding hearted animal lovers going here on the forum.

Now there isn't a dumber animal on the planet - in the middle of a blazing hot day with 3 lanes of traffic on a 2 lane Balinese highway (I use the term loosely). Now your ratty, bug infested pooch decides the best place for a little afternoon shut-eye is middle of said highway. If that aint doggy death wish well I don't know. And you all want to protect this noble animal - well protect away... I say run em over and get it over with for the poor sons-of-bitches.

Back on subject What to bring to bali--------------------
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by Markit on Tue Nov 04, 2008 1:49 pm

As I will be returning to Bali in the near future and I have about 10 kilos luggage going wanting has anyone any suggestions for (cheap) things that I can bring that will do some good there?
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my reply;
Regards vitamins bought in bali,dont even try it,the price is insaine! almost 4X more than in the USA.
Prenatal vitamins,any vitamins bring them to bali,the birthing center in Ubud needs it (Bumi Sehat) Ibu Robin-(robin needs a few homeopathic remedies,ran out since I was there in 2007) Belladonna in low potency 30C-is what she asked for.
also the clinic in Lovina run by Gloria Goodwin (Balicrisiscare)-

They are also in horrible need of baby clothes,childrens,clothes,sheets,baby blankets,Burn bandages,cloth diapers.
Thanks for the kind gesture.

Our attitude to animals reflects our attitude to ourselves because we are animals !

Why do so many of us eat them?

JohnnyCool wrote:

Our attitude to animals reflects our attitude to ourselves because we are animals !

Why do so many of us eat them?

so many of us also do not eat them, if you consider world population, more people are vegetarian than not.

We do not need to eat meat for our survival, humans are just indulgent.
In the end, It is a personal choice which is based on values and consciousness.

OK Chili are you suggesting we fill our luggage with vegetables to bring to Bali? I would have thought that they had enough of those really, but I'm always willing to learn

I really don't think that meat eating was an indulgence in our ancestors. We are a small, slow, naked, basically harmless animal compared to say, a saber-toothed tiger.

So it was necessary for us to "indulge" in some high energy food to help us get a little bit of an edge on the other nasties out there.

And, fortunately, it seems to have worked reasonably well as witnessed by our proliferation and our lives of luxury that allow us to ask silly questions about our natural diets, or choose to eat all the animal's food that we profess to love so much