Wendy Lim grew up with many pets, from dogs and fishes to chickens and hamsters. But Michi was her first cat – and he has changed her from someone who didn’t really like the idea of owning a feline, to a self-professed “crazy cat lady”.
She tells FMT that the name “Michi” translates to “street” or “road” in Japanese. And there is a dramatic, if potentially upsetting, story behind it.
“I was driving home from work one day when I saw a small creature in the middle of the road ahead,” she recalls. “Many cars were driving over him so I thought he was roadkill.
“When I got closer, I witnessed a lorry driving over him, its tyres nearly grazing his body. He moved and curled up tightly into a ball.
“My heart sank when I realised he was still alive. I stopped by the side of the road, ran out of my car, picked him up and held him in my arms.”
Wendy was initially at a loss, but eventually she brought him home to her boyfriend and housemates.
Today, Michi is a healthy and well-adjusted cat – one who has changed Wendy’s life as much as she has his.
“I never knew cats could be so quirky, playful and fun,” she admits. “He has so much energy and is an extremely active cat.”
Active he is, as Michi loves going for walks on a leash – something that attracts stares from passers-by.
“He also likes going for car rides and will just sit in our laps when we are driving,” Wendy says.
She adds that Michi pretends to be independent but this is just an act. When she went for a holiday early last year and left him with her family, he refused to leave her side when she got home.
“He slept right beside me for two months and kept asking for attention. And then, after some time, he returned to his usual personality.”
And what a personality it is. “He’s very demanding. There’s a specific way he wants you to pat him – back of the hand, no palms, on his forehead and chin only. Otherwise he will give you a nibble.”
Wendy shares that as much as Michi brings her joy, he can also be difficult, especially when it is time for a dreaded visit to the vet.
“He actually got rejected by multiple clinics because they couldn’t handle him,” she says. “He makes a mess on the table and starts screaming as if he’s being tortured.
“He’s just a tad overdramatic,” Wendy says wryly.
Wendy’s vet dramas did not end there. Proving he is a cat of multiple lives, Michi was once misdiagnosed with Feline Infection Peritonitis (FIP), which is fatal in 95% of cases, after he refused to use his litter box.
Wendy admits she cried for weeks until she learnt it was a mistake and he was actually being choosy about the type of litter in his box.
“Thankfully he’s a happy and healthy boy now,” she says.
Michi is the reason Wendy started her home-based business, Paws Up Enterprise, which provides boarding services as well as treats and handcrafted soaps.
“I found Michi when I was feeling lost, fresh out of law school but knowing it wasn’t the path I wanted to pursue.
“Thanks to him, I was introduced to many pet-loving communities online. I started helping others take care of their pets, and it slowly blossomed into a business.”
Find out more about Wendy’s pet business by following Paws Up Enterprise on Instagram.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.