Many people meet their furry companions through, for lack of a better word, fate or destiny. That seems to be the case for Punitha Yogaratnam, 55, who took in a stray neighbourhood cat called Mocka.
“I didn’t find Mocka, she found me,” Punitha shared with FMT when asked how she came to care for the feline.
According to her, Mocka used to be an indoor cat belonging to one of her neighbours. She rarely ventured outside. However, when the cat’s owner passed away, his family members no longer wanted to keep her.
“His family basically left her outside, leaving her to roam the neighbourhood as a stray,” Punitha recalled.
As time went by, she noticed the cat was actually extremely friendly and trusting, flopping belly up when she stopped to play with her, a sign of trust.
The duo became fast friends and the feline started hanging around outside Punitha’s yard. “She provides the cuteness and I provide the cuddles and playtime.”
Soon Mocka was parking herself on Punitha’s car roof on cool days or snoozing under her car on hot days. Often times, she can be seen curled into a tight ball atop a dustbin lid.
“I estimate her to be about 12 years old judging by how long she’s been in the area, but we only became friends over the last few years.”
Mocka doesn’t only have Punitha in her life, as the latter’s friend Vivien Lim has taken a liking to the feline as well.
“I remember buying a tonne of canned food trying to figure out which she would like, having to go back and forth to the pet shop for different brands because she scoffed at so many of them,” Lim recalled.
It even resulted in the pet shop employee looking somewhat baffled, and remarking one day that Lim probably had quite a number of pets to feed. “He was shocked when I told him those were all for one picky cat.”
Mocha’s refined taste and subsequent rejection of good quality food was met with delight by the other strays in the area, who partook of the gourmet spread with no complaints whatsoever.
“During the early days Mocka was eating Kibbles, albeit reluctantly. When Vivien found the right food, she was eating really well,” Punitha said, adding that once when the brand was out of stock, a frantic Vivien went online scouring for other sources so Mocka wouldn’t be disappointed.
“Vivien has even bought a waterproof house for Mocka right outside my front gate, which she loves!” Punitha said joyously.
Since Punitha has two dogs, she isn’t able to keep Mocka inside. However, the cat seems to be pretty happy outside and doesn’t stray far from the house.
On a typical day you can find her lazing beneath the trees in Punitha’s garden or hanging out in her humble abode on cool evenings.
Mocka’s one of those beings who takes things in stride. She’s also confident and not in a cocky way.
“She’s used to dogs but I find that worrying as you never know if the ones she approaches are friendly or not. There are people who walk their dogs in the area and when they come near her, she’s not bothered in the slightest.
“Mocka is a super loving cat and people in the neighbourhood love her,” Punitha said. “Even if she can’t say it, we know she loves all of us too.”
