Kucing Siam (Siamese cat)

I was on my way to the post office yesterday when I saw, down the road, a child cuddling something that didn't look to be a stuffed toy. With proximity, they resolved into a Malay kid hugging a Siamese cat. He looked at me as I approached, and I smiled at the cat; approaching people via their pets is generally a good idea. It has a flattering effect, since pet owners like to talk about their 'babies'.

"Eh, comelnya!
"Bukan comel, dia dah besar," (It's not cute, it's grown up already) he informed me. He pressed on the cat's right forepaw to unsheath its claws. "Tengok, dia gagah." (Look, he's ferocious.)
"Kucing Siam kah?" (Siamese cat?)
"Ya."
"Apa nama dia?" (What's it's name?)
"Ven."
I waved goodbye and went to post my letters. On the way back, he had the cat slung inside his shirt so that he looked like a pregnant ten-year-old boy. That's one laid-back cat.

At the time, I wasn't thinking about how scared I normally am of speaking to strange people. I wasn't thinking of how awkward I find interaction with children. I wasn't thinking about how bad my Malay is.

Kitties make everything better.