DIARY
3rd June 2000: Posh was vaccinated
August: Posh has stunted growth;Posh is given Olive Leaf Extract and Maitake Mushroom Extract.
5th February 2001:Posh was neutered at Mt. Pleasant Animal Clinic
PHOTO ALBUM
30th June 2002
8th September 2002; Posh and Ah Boy
From: Sharon
Sent: Tuesday, 24 September, 2002 8:38 AM
Thanks to Anthony, Posh was seen by Dr Daphne Ang at Animal Clinic yesterday (23/9). He was brought to the vet for significant weight loss over a week, dehydrated & indication of bad diarrhea with badly stained anus.
Posh is currently hospital as he is on drip to rehydrate him.
As posh was tested +ve for FIP (about 2 yrs ago), what posh is going through now could be clinical signs of FIP. other than the loss of weight, his kidneys, etc, are functioning alright. Now we can only cross our fingers & pray hard … if it’s really fip taking effect, then Posh will only deteriorate further …
st October 2002
Posh was brought to the vet (dr daphne ang of the animal clinic, clementi) on 23/9/02 (Mon) for significant loss of weight & bad diarrhea. At the clinic, Dr Ang put him on drip as he was dehydrated. She also ran some tests to ascertain any damage to his internal organs, like lungs & kidneys. As Posh had been tested +ve for FIP about 3 yrs ago, Dr Ang was also concerned of the virus taking its toll on Posh. He also passed out quite an amount of blood in his stools. The results of lab tests showed Posh’s organs are not damaged. He was treated with antibiotics to clear his watery bloody stools & IV fluids given to rehydrate him. While he continued to show interest in food, his intake was not as much.
Posh was discharged on 29th of September after his stools problem was cleared. However, given his FIP status, his survival is very much in question. What’s important now is to keep him happy & comfortable. He’s discharged with 3 kinds of medication. Please see instruction on the packet. The total vet bill was $362.90.
30th October 2002; 2325hrs; sms from Siew Ying:-
“Posh is eating more today.
Karen sent him to her vet.
Will monitor his porgress.
Told Salie not to worry, if full blown, nothing can be done;
If not, like 
BOK”
4th November 2002
Posh was discharged from Mt Pleasant Animal Hospital. Anthony, a hand-on volunteer, is now taking care of him at his home.
SMS from Anthony at about 4pm indicated that Posh ate a little wet food and then went to sleep.
Responding to an email request from a volunter, many members of the Amitabha Buddhist Centre have been dedicating prayers to Posh since the 30th of October.
5th November 2002; 5.20pm; SMS Update:-
“Posh is eating small quantity at a time. Pee today but no poo yet. Did prayer for him and walked him around the stupa earlier.”
8th November 2002; 2.20pm; Anthony’s SMS Update:-
“Posh is not eating anymore. He just curls up in the sleeping posture and rest.”
10 am 9th November 2002; Anthony’s SMS Update:-
“Posh ate today.”
9:48 PM Karen :
posh was eating this morning and in front of me. think he really meditating in anthony’s place. i bought some more can food for him, as long as he eats, i will get different type of good food for him.”
From: Venerable Dolma 
Sent: Sunday, 10 November, 2002 11:59 PM
“….have asked the centres in Alice Springs to do Medicine Buddha Mantras…… I will send a total on Friday………. hope Posh will improve quickly……….. dedicating all my prayers for a recovery swiftly…… bye Dolma”
From: Venerable Dolma
Sent: Friday, 15 November, 2002 9:49 PM
“Hallo …..how is Posh kitten…… please tell Anthony that 5,000 Medicine Buddha mantras are coming to help……..”
On the 19th of November at about 11.30pm, Posh was transferred to the care of Timo and Nancy.
From: Timo
Sent: 19 November, 2002
Anthony brought Posh to us about 11.30 PM tonight. According to the original plan it should have happened yesterday but we couldn’t because our cats were still in our house. Finally they flew to Australia tonight starting at 8.30, ie. they will be landing very soon. Posh was meowing about 15 to 20 minutes then he ate (3 table spoonfuls of wet food) and drank some water from a plate and was about to use the litter box. I think we will have a very good time together He is so symphatic and friendly. We told him about our Kitty and Lolitha and their compassion to eating. Nancy told him how good Timo is in spoiling and fattening cats. So, we are happy he is with us these 10 days until we fly to Sydney to live with our cats.
From: Timo
Sent: 20 November, 2002
Later today you can see more pictures and updates on him at http://www.sippala.net/timo/singapore/posh/
We called to the quarantine station in Australia today. Our cats Kitty and Lolitha had arrived there. Pet Movers Sg took care of their travel arrangements. They were travelling in cargo No bedding was put in their cages so they arrived all wet of water and their own pee. Now they are better. They are lucky to be able to live together in a same big cage in the quarantine station. They can climb up to the roof of the building and view surroundings. We miss them a lot and are lucky to have Posh keeping us company until we fly to Sydney in Nov 30th.
From: Timo
Sent: Thursday, 21 November, 2002 8:58 PM
Hi All,
Two pictures of Posh
from today show his favourite actions here in Hougang HDB, ie. toilet and sleeping. He likes to spend time in toilet playing with water and watching water. His favourite sleeping place is in front of the bathroom door right next to his feeding place. Today he has been eating 3 times today. No vomiting today and his contribution to the litter box seems normal He has been quite silent, lazy like cats used to be. He has been sleeping and stretching himself, only a couple of greeting meows every now and then. He was purring when I bent to pat him.
From: “Timo”
Sent: Saturday, 23 November, 2002 4:51 PM
First about the automimmune cat. Sorry to be late with this. She won’t need a place in mettacattery because a temporary home was found to him. That’s what our friend told us. After Dec 6th she’ll get a new permanent home in Nora’s place.
He is eating a couple of times a day, not much but something. He hasn’t been vomitting either. Yesterday and today he has got salmon with some cream and honey. He seems to like it very much. He eats also canned and dry cat food. Mostly he is just sleeping in his favourite place near the toilet door and feeding place. Often he doesn’t even bother to greet us or make any noise. Though he still looks a bit sick and sad. Really wish he won’t be in big pain. He’s a nice brave cat.
Last night we had a
little kitten staying with us. Posh was a bit nervous about her but wasn’t actually angry. In the morning we decided to release the kitten back to the street. That is a little kitten living in a parking lot near our house. In the evenings and nights she is going around and looking for her mother. We haven’t seen the mother there so maybe there’s no mother any more. It’s very small kitten left alone. Better to find home for it though it is a smart kitten, doesn’t let people to come too close and knows to avoid cars too and can find her food. There are some aunties feeding casts here. Later will post some pictures of her.
From: “Timo”
Sent: Monday, 25 November, 2002 12:05 AM
We were bathing Posh and medicating the ear mite. There hasn’t been any dramatical changes in his condition today. If something then a little bit better again. He didn’t get stressed of bathing and he didn’t get too stressed about the little kitten being in the house. He has been eating again 3 times a day.
We managed to find home for the little kitten. About new home for Posh; unfortunately no new ideas.
28th November 2002;10.45pm:SMS from Siew Ying:-
“Posh is OK. He ate about half of the small can. He looked quite settled down. Cooked liver in chicken soup and he drank some.”
From: Sharon
Sent: Monday, 09 December, 2002 4:26 PM
Subject: MC update – 7 & 8/12
A. Update on MC cats
1. Posh is doing great! He was seen eating dry food on saturday also & has put on weight nicely! Really gotta thank Karen for taking the initiative of bringing him to the vet, & Anthony, Timo & Nancy great effort in caring for him at home. He’s moving around in the cattery very comfortably.
6th January 2003
From: Sharon Siow
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2003 5:23 PM
Subject: update on posh
Lorraine from Fetch-PEt Taxi sent posh to the Animal Clinic at Clementi because we found him dehydrated yesterday.
Posh was seen by Dr Ang.
findings & treatment
– dehydrated: put on drip
– borderline body temp: 37.2
– very bad gums. but dr ang will not recommend teeth scaling until he’s more stabilised.
– lethargic
– dr ang will run some tests to determine status of his kidneys
– there’re some lumps at his abdomen area but again, will kiv till he’s more stabilised.
Salie & i will visit him at the clinic after work today.
Expenditure so far: $40 to be paid to Lorraine
6th June 2003: Dr Grace Heng operated on Posh.
Sharon’s sms “Posh should do well. The big lump was not a tumour as initially feared. It was a hernia. Over time, fats and intestines “slipped” through the small hole. Grace pushed back the intestines and cut away the fats that had gone “bad”. His teeth were also cleaned. There was some chipping and rotting of the teeth. The gums were badly inflammed. Posh looked good and should recover well. Grace was surprised as this condition is more common among female cats and Posh is a guy!”
From: Salie
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 3:22 PM
Posh went through an emergency surgery on Friday as he was not eating and we were afraid that the lump on his stomach might be the cause of it. It was found that he has a small hole in his intestine lining and the fats can actually ooze out of it and form a growth that is pressing against this stomach. The lump (about the size of a golf ball) was taken out and the hole was stitched up. He went through teeth scaling at the same time. He is still not eating (been a week now) and being force-fed. It will be good to get a foster home for him.
SMS from Salie, 10th June, 2100hrs:”Posh eating today! Finally. He ate a lot too.
12th June 2003: Posh is going home to the cattery today.
His vet fee is $610.40
14th June 2003, 10.30pm. SMS from Salie:
“Posh is leaving us soon. Not reacting much and not eating. I syringed him food and water. Wrapped him in towel and put him in a basket.
We tried our best to save him. Without fail, we visited him every day at the Animal Clinic at Clementi for two weeks.
I pray for him to go peacefully.
He doesn’t recognise us now.
Pray for him.”
16th June, 7pm: Posh was still not eating and his body was cold. He was sent along with Max, to the Animal Clinic, Clementi.
10.30pm Sharon’s sms: “Dr Ang saw Posh. She checked and said there was infection of the lung. She said that if we do not wish to euthanise him, we could keep him comfy in a familiar environment for him to spend his days. Siew Ying has brought him home. Dr Ang likes Posh a lot and didn’t charge us. She patted his head and stroked him. It was very heartwarming.”
Posh took his last breath at 1pm, surrouned by the wamth of tender loving care given to him by SY in her home. Mantras were streaming into his consciousness before his death and continued right till his burial besides the cattery.
SMS from SY at 7.15pm: “Just buried Posh under the durian tree. Just nice. I think he knew it was difficult to dig. That was why it rained the whole of today to soften the earth.”
19th June 2003; 6.30pm; sms from SY: “Venerable Guan Ching, a buddhist nun, is chanting for Posh at his grave now. Majority of the cattery’s residents are crowding at the corner too, observing the ceremony.”
From: Timo Sippala
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 2:38 PM
Subject: Good bye Posh, our special friend
Posh, friend.. We were so saddened after hearing you are no more with us.
I don’t have much words.
The news about your death really touched, like losing a dear friend always does.
Just wish you didn’t have to suffer much during your last days and weeks in Mettacattery.
We saw you the first time a bit more than 6 months ago.
We had just sent our former street cats from Singapore to Australia.
They were tired and devastated in the quarantine station after the long flight and waiting in the airport.
But they made it. We telephoned the quarantine station asking how they are there far far away.
And you came to stay with us for a few days in the middle of all the packing and preparations to leave Singapore and follow our cats to Australia.
I remember you laying near the bathroom door and talking to us.
I remember the the wise and patient look in your eyes.
Were you in pain then? At least you didn’t show it but you were so brave.
It’s easy to love a cute little kitten with good health.
Did anyone say you are cute and sweet? Your look wasn’t something that could attract everyone but I am sure everyone that knew you and met you.
We all discovered that you are something special, not just another cat but a real personality, so brave and good-hearted and wise cat.
You really touched our life. I have the feeling you have thought me something very valuable.
I feel there was a meaning in your life.
And you were loved, indeed this is the best we can wish.
I keep looking at the pictures of you. One of them you can see below.
Remember the little kitten we took home from the car park.
She is now known as Patches and she is living in our friend’s house in Hougang.
Remember how I was bathing you both? You took it easy but the liitle one was so scared that she pretended to be dead for a minute making me really terrified.
Thanks, Posh, for being part of our life.
Cats and cat lovers were absolutely the best I saw in that country during my 9 months stay there.
I am happy all this happened. It really makes sense.
During the last weeks we have been hearing horrible news from Singapore.
How hundreds, if not thousands of cats there get murdered by the authorities.
We get so devastated thinking that many of our friend cats we met and relatives of our own cats, former Singaporean strays, have to end their days in such a horrific way.
It’s so unbelievable compared to life our cats here. They are loved and now they can walk free in the backyard and climb trees without fear of being culled.
Posh, mate, our warmest thoughts and love to you whereever you are now! We will remember you!
And our love and best wishes to all cats and cat lovers in Singapore.
Nancy and Timo plus Kitti and Lolitha cats and Bluey dog, the red heeler.