But in Lai Howe Chuan’s household, the deities have a very unholy problem: a cat named Joker.
The moment the offerings are set down, Joker makes his entrance. With the stealth of a panther and the appetite of a vacuum cleaner, this sleek black feline struts over, hops onto the altar, and helps himself to the offerings. Apples, pears, even bowls of plain water – nothing is safe.
“We shout at him, chase him off, and he still comes back,” Lai, 47, said, half laughing, half defeated.
“Every single time. He’ll drink the water, nibble the fruits, even vegetables – which cats don’t normally touch. But Joker? If it fits in his mouth, it’s food.”
To the rest of the family, it’s a battle of wills. To Joker, it’s just dinner service with extra steps. And while most pets eventually learn boundaries, Joker seems to have made it his personal mission to test – and break – every single one.
“Joker is really a joker,” laughed Lai, a pet food distributor and Devon Rex breeder. The Devon Rex is a tall-eared, short-haired breed of cat known for its atypical appearance.
“He’s hyperactive, never afraid of anything, and he instantly warms up to new environments. Even when we travel abroad, he doesn’t need time to adjust – he just plays right away,” Lai said of Joker.
The Devon Rex, Lai explained, is a compact and sturdy breed known for its friendliness. Some even call them “shoulder cats” because they love to perch on their humans. Joker fits the description perfectly.
Instead of curling on laps, Joker climbs onto Lai’s shoulder, surveying the world from above like he’s the one in charge. “It’s like he thinks we’re his pets,” Lai joked.
Travel is another area where Joker breaks the rules of normal cat behaviour. Lai has taken him on planes to Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and across Malaysia for cat shows. While most cats hide, hiss, or sulk, Joker treats it like a holiday.
“Flights, cargo, quarantine – no stress at all,” Lai said. “He just trusts me completely. I can wipe him down, clean his ears, groom his coat, and he’ll stay calm. That trust is rare, especially with male cats, who are usually more dominant. But Joker never once hisses at me.”
Most recently, Joker bagged the 8th Best Championship (International) title at the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) International Cat Show 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
“It’s a very good achievement. I feel happy for him and myself because all the hard work paid off.”
At home, Joker’s bond with Lai’s family runs deep. He plays with Lai’s daughters and has a quirky preference for being carried like a baby.
“When he was small, my daughter always carried him from the front. So now, that’s the only way he likes it. If someone tries to hold him from the back, he twists around. People might think he’s attacking, but really, he just wants to hug you face-to-face,” Lai explained with a smile.
Though showing a black cat at competitions can be tricky – “if you don’t groom them well, the coat turns brownish, which isn’t ideal,” Lai said – Joker’s personality makes him stand out. Always playful, always curious, and always hungry, he’s a cat who keeps life lively.
“He’s a funny fellow,” Lai said fondly. “Hyperactive, maniac, food lover, shoulder rider – that’s Joker. And we wouldn’t have him any other way.”
This story was written by Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
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