If your pet could talk, what would be the first thing it says?
If my fictional feline, Toru, could talk…he would pat me in the back. With his untrimmed paw, he’ll say ‘Mamundoon ka‘ (You’re so sad). Runner up line: Pasensya ka na, nakakataram na ako. (My bad, I can talk now).
Limbo
My favourite feline story is Murakami’s Town of Cats. In his book 1Q84, Tengo (the protagonist) reads a tale about the furry critters. In this dreamland, the man chances upon a barrio run by felines. After sunset, the guy is shocked. Big cats take over the town, stand upright, and act human. Hiding in a belfry, the cats walk past him. He’s invisible. The departing train passes by him as if he was hidden. He realises that this is a place where he’s lost for good.
I spoofed this in my poetry collection. Renamed ‘The Town of Cuts’, I retained the limbo theme. Instead of cats, I utilised meat cuts. The guy is elated to find a haven of steaks. No matter how many fillets he eats, he’s never satiated. It’s a slice of Interstellar. In the end, he accepts his fate.
In pop culture
Other famous cats include Scratchy from The Simpsons, the Cheshire Cat, and the Cat in the Hat. The former is in the comical short with Itchy. It’s a show within a show, Bart and Lisa’s favourite cartoon. He hatches plans to kill his mortal enemy, preparing spices like Tom in Tom and Jerry. However, the cunning Itchy always fools him. The blood and gore is perfect for laughs.
Meanwhile, the Cheshire is Alice and Wonderland‘s cheeky feline. More philosophical, he specialises in riddles. That wry grin is both annoying and cute. Don’t let his porous shape and hulking frame fool you. He’s a massive part of Lewis Carroll’s made-up universe.
Finally, Dr Seuss developed the Cat in the Hat. Gen Y audiences would know that Mike Myers played him. Pesky like Scratchy, he wants to help but ends up causing mayhem. He redeems himself by helping the kids clean up their house. His barf bag makes perfect sense to me. Last month, my nausea was really bad. Thankfully, I found the cure. By myself. No need to see the family doctor.
Spielberg
Ages ago, I saw E.T. With a young Drew Barrymore, the alien’s first line is ‘E.T. phone home.’
My friend asked me about my favourite Steven Spielberg film. I answered E.T. Meanwhile, his was more serious: Schindler’s List. It won Spielberg the best director Oscar. This basketball presenter said, ‘E.C. phones home.’
He referred to Eddy Curry, who had a layup down low. The same mate was house sitter for a couple of friends. He had to feed their cat.
Kokey
Meanwhile, in the Philippines, they had this E.T. parody, Kokey. They made a comedy film about it. The alien was a clear E.T. ripoff. Like the latter, the townsfolk were against the creature. It’s similar to District 9, where they become second-class citizens. They feared an extraterrestrial invasion. Kokey, green and all, was maligned. Only the protagonist got him. He and his sister hid the alien before he was beaten like a piñata. The movie was funny and the characters were relatable.
However, it inspired a TV series. While the movie was passable, the series was laughable. I never watched the series but heard stories from my sister. Apparently, the Kokey version was so bad that it was good. They crimped on the costume and the contrast to Spielberg’s creation was glaring. I knew a kid who absolutely adored the show. She wanted to see the absurd alien when they visited the local mall.
In addition, the character had this weird phrase: ‘Noka noka noka.’
Kitty
Ages ago, my sister’s friend kept pestering her. She’d call her while she was studying.
‘Could I speak with Jacklyn please.’
She said this with a strong Indonesian accent. When I picked up the landline, my sis was miming to say that she was unavailable. The friend would then keep conversing with her, even when my sister was clearly cutting the convo. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Her pet feline was named Kitty. He was her world. Apparently, Kitty didn’t eat cat food. Years later, the friend was teary eyed, admitting that Kitty had passed away.
Always irritable, her temperament transferred to my sister. Not exactly a sparkling influence.
TLC
Whether cats, dogs, primates, or iguanas, pets give us life. They are our extensions, the reason we brave the world and go home. They give us company and cure our worries. They entertain and complete us. Their feathers may differ and their comportment may vary. In the end, we speak the same language.
