Can
a cat be vegetarian? Most veterinarians would say, "That's impossible.
I've never heard of it. A cat would rather die than be a vegetarian!"
However, Sister Liu has an amazing little cat named Bighead that is
strictly vegetarian, refusing to touch any food that smells of flesh,
or even vegetarian "meat." Below are some wonderful episodes
about this unusual feline.
God
must have arranged for sister Liu to meet Bighead. After her initiation,
sister Liu did not keep pets, because she had to maintain a vegetarian
diet and did not like the odor of animals. Then one day, she moved into
a new home. After settling in, she found a small, scrawny wild cat on
the stairs of her apartment building, and for a few days put out a plate
of milk and crackers for the cat.
Sister
Liu teaches English at home, and one day before class began, the hairless
little cat followed her students into her apartment. However, sister
Liu, who loves cleanliness, did not want to keep the animal and sent
her away. That night, some fellow initiates came to sister Liu's home
for group meditation, and someone suggested that she adopt the helpless
feline. The following day, when sister Liu saw the cat on the stairs,
she opened the door and spoke to her, saying, "If you want to live
with me, you have to be vegetarian like me." Then she began to
count from one to ten and decided that she would close the door if the
little cat did not come in before she finished counting. But when she
reached eight, the cat unhurriedly walked in and thereafter became a
member of her family.
What
exactly does Bighead eat? I am sure everyone must be very curious about
that! Bighead eats cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts, papayas, persimmons,
apples, pears, celery, cabbage, tomatoes, vegetarian meat floss, crackers
and even potted golden pothos. She especially loves cucumbers, alfalfa
sprouts and sweet and sour food. Even now, new items are being added
to her menu! Another thing that deserves special mention is that Bighead
prefers a light diet. She refuses vegetarian food that has a smell resembling
that of flesh. It is incredible! We know that a cat has no molars, so
how does Bighead chew her food? Sister Liu chews the food first and
then places tiny morsels, each time no bigger than a mung bean, on her
palm to feed the cat. Each meal takes as long as an hour. In the beginning,
Bighead was unable to control her jaws well and her teeth would scratch
sister Liu's fingers, but now the clever cat has learned to lick her
food and not hurt her master. From this we can see that animals too
have feelings and can be very understanding.
When
sister Liu took Bighead to the vet for the first time, the animal was
very defensive and fierce. By the third time, however, she had become
meek and quiet, and was very cooperative. At first the vet did not believe
cats could be vegetarian, but later he laughed and said that Bighead
would soon be "enlightened," and through this incident became
acquainted with Master's teachings. Under careful treatment, the hairless
cat began to grow fur again, and because of her vegetarian diet, does
not possess the animal odor that pets usually do.
Bighead
is a spiritual "Quan Yin" cat. She moves around quietly among
the initiates when they come for group meditation, and after meditation,
one of the brothers often finds Bighead sitting motionless on his knees,
just as though she is meditating. When the initiates are preparing to
leave after each meditation session, she sits on the cushion of every
one for a while in order to get blessings. Bighead is also sister Liu's
alarm clock. Every morning, the cat wakes her up to remind her that
it is time for meditation!
Since
she began to eat vegetarian food, Bighead has become mild in temperament
and has a pleasant demeanor, which makes her popular among both adults
and children. However she is sensitive, too. She hides herself when
strangers come but rushes out to welcome initiates. When sister Liu's
students come for class, she hides, but when initiates' children come
to her home, she plays with them and lets them caress her. What a lovely
cat!
Bighead
lives a happy, carefree life at sister Liu's home, where she enjoys
skating on the clean floor and somersaults when she is alone. Sister
Liu has learned the virtues of love and patience from Bighead, and now
understands that all animals have spirituality within, the only difference
being that they speak different languages. Bighead is another testimony
to the fact that pets can be vegetarian, which makes them healthier
and gives them prettier coats of fur. (Please refer to "Timely
Vegetarian Diet Saves Dogs," News magazine No. 134.) Do you want
to have a try at sister Liu's lifestyle? Perhaps your pet will be the
next happy vegetarian cat or dog!