• Singapore's older generation (above 50-year old folk) with no experience in cat ownership thinks all cats are "dirty" and causes asthma to babies and old folks. Basically they feel that money is wasted on keeping pets. Many such folks, left alone at home as the grown up children have to work, find great happiness in keeping kittens, looking forward to each day to greet the new companion. Some questions are answered in email below.

Subject: Re: "stray" cat
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 03:00:23 +0000
Thank you for email. See reply below.

SG wrote:

Recently,I got to know this cat which i was told by a neighbour whom had been feeding it regularly that it was actually belonging to one of the families who had moved away and abandoned it there.i have no idea what breed is it but I think maybe it had some kind of skin illness cuz it kept nipping itself in the area near the tail as if to stop an itch.

• Most likely an anal sac infection or wound. Can be cured easily. Bring it to the nearest veterinarian immediately.

I hope to adopt it but I am worried about my father who is asthmatic.

• If he is not allergic to cat's hair and cats, there should be no problem. If he has watery eye and nose sneezing or feel hard to breathe everytime he is near a cat, then he has to avoid the cat. In any case, he must have anti-asthmatic medication and nose inhaler at all times with him. Has he the medication?

Furthermore, my mom will only allow to keep it if we keep it outside my HDB flat.If I place a cat outside my flat but keep it comfy with a nice basket with cushions & water & food for it but keep my door shut on it, will it be cruel?My mother thinks it will leave it's droppings all over the place as well as leave the whole house in a mess. Please give me some advice:)

• Cats are very clean creatures. It needs a plastic box in which you put cat litter or sand, bought from supermarket or pet shop and it will use it as its toilet. Probably, it is using the ground downstairs as its toilet. Important thing is to sterilise it if you don't want it to roam fight (if male usually) and be pregnant (if female).