A blessing, Oku

OKU stands for Orang Kurang Upaya (the disabled)

I called him Oku ( Pronounce as Oh-Koo)

It was after the Aceh and Kelantan trip. A day after we came back. We had just finished our Hadith class at home. Then my neighbour told us that there was a cat in the drain. There was no reason to feel odd about that cause cats do that sometimes.

Then we realized, after a few days, the cat stayed in the same position and it was raining. We (my brother, Abah and I) tried to get the cat out but the cat spit and hissed at us, literally. He was so fierce, I was really shocked! I went into the huge drain and misplaced my footing due to the loudness of the spitting cat and my palm scraped the side of the rough cement (silly me!). We called out our neighbour to help but that cat was frightening and we tried to carry it using a shovel but it went into a hole. We can't get it out. So, I suggested putting something below the hole so that the cat will land there. We noticed while the cat tried to climb up into the hole, the cat was dragging itself.

The lower part of it's body was dysfunctional.

The next day, the cat refused to go out from the hole. We called the rescue and they came. The tied rope around the cat's neck and pulled it out but in the process, the cat's mouth got scraped by the edge of the hole so a part of it's mouth was bleeding, some teeth were missing.

they got the cat out but it rolled into the watery drain part. So, the whole body was covered by drain water. We showered him and brought him to the vet.

The veterinarian suspected he was a victim of a hit and run.

He had a huge cut on his legs, I could see the bones and cuts on both of his hands. I cried quite badly when I had to nurse him, I mean, just look at that face!

He couldn't walk. Can't eat due to the injury of his mouth. His temperature dropped and he was dehydrated. He was only 3.2 or 3.4 kg

We brought it home. For the first three days, he can't eat and I began to worry. So what I did was, I mixed wet cat food with honey and water through a syringe. I did that for the whole three days, as well as cleaning his cuts and applied cream onto his flesh. Alhamdulillah, on the fourth day, the appetite grew and every meal, He will finished at least 2 packets of wet food.

But there was another problem, he didn't poop or urinated for four days. Thank God, on the day I brought him to the vet, which was the fifth day, he pooped and urinated! 

The veterinarian said he was getting better, his temperature was normal and he gained weight to 3.6 kg. I was really happy that Oku was getting better. Tho the veterinarian did say that he has 50% of walking but I had faith in him.

Oku was really lovable cause after I fed him and gave him medicine, he would meowed to me, wanting me to pet him. So I laid down beside him while he rested his body on my arm or palm while I stroke. 

oh, that was Snow being jealous of Oku.

Look at Snow's paw. Literally latching on my thigh like I am a furniture, more scratches.

After a week, he can already licked himself, appetite grew as much as 2 wet food packet and a bowl of dry food. 

Unfortunately, being disabled and old (he was assumed to be 8 years old). Oku wasn't loved as much as Snow. I was the only one pouring my heart to him, as well my brother (but not as much as me). The others loved him as well but they just don't know how to. 

Still healing, he was still unable to move, he pooped and urinated at the same spot he sat. His pee flowed all over his body. He was smelly and I couldn't shower him cause his wounds was still visible and open. 

This was how well he was! well, not exactly but at least he could stand a bit. 

For almost two weeks with Oku, he was getting better and better. He could dragged himself out of his box and climbed onto a chair even when he couldn't walk. He was getting stronger. He would place his paws on my shoulder, probably hugging me (hehe) but his lower part was still badly ridden, I guess since he can't control his bowel movement. 

Unfortunately, we could not let Oku be inside the house. I was really worried cause I tried putting it outside but cats will try to pick a fight to my poor Oku and there were snakes in our neighbourhood. Being stronger, Oku will also climbed out of his box and he did.

I tried letting it go to the Animal Centre but they don't take stray animals anymore ( Then don't yourself Animal centre *roll eyes*). We went to a few vet and none wanted Oku. Earlier this day, I went to the vet one last time with Oku

The veterinarian said he was really getting better. He gained another 0.2 kg. I went alone so I had to place Oku on the chair to proceed to the counter, collecting his medicine and paying but he went crazy meowing and wanted to fall out of the box. Turned out he just wanted to be held by me cause other humans tried to pet him but he went crazy. I mean under normal circumstances, he would hiss to anyone except for me (really, not bragging). So with Oku in my arms, I payed and drove home.

Not being able to put him inside the house, I tried to block any opening for him to escape the box but probably Oku sensed that he wasn't wanted, during dawn, my mum checked on him and he was already gone. 

gone

gone

we searched the whole neighbourhood at different time but he wasn't anywhere in sight.

How did he dragged himself? 

Is he still alive?

Why isn't he coming back?

I need my baby back.

Honestly, when I knew I had to let him go. I hugged him, crying for hours and he placed his paws on my shoulders. But when I knew he was gone, I couldn't cry cause was it really happening? I was so occupied with Oku, snow was jealous when he was around. I literally lived in the kitchen with Oku all the time. 

But it was all real. he's gone. 

Come back, please.

At least let me see you walk, prove that you are worth.

come back, my beautiful Oku.