For many elderly couples, retirement means finally having time to slow down and enjoy life after decades of hard work.
But for 71-year-old Ong Tai Bih and his 65-year-old wife, Chin Lai Hong, life after their children moved away for work was not always as peaceful as it seemed.
With their children busy building their own lives, the couple often found themselves spending their days alone at home in Perak.
Life was quite boring. Our children are all working and living away from home, so it was just me and my wife. We felt quite lonely.”
Little did they know that a furry little companion named Xavier would eventually change their lives, bringing laughter, companionship, and even unexpected internet fame.
Today, Xavier is known online for something rather unusual: being a fearless cat who isn’t afraid to chase dogs much bigger than himself.
But behind those funny viral videos is a heartwarming story of how one cat became an important part of an elderly couple’s lives.
Lost their beloved dog & had no pet for 10 years
Before Xavier came along, the couple had already experienced the heartbreak of losing a pet.
More than a decade ago, they adopted a stray dog whom they loved dearly. Unfortunately, their dog died after being poisoned, leaving both of them devastated.
“We were very sad for a long time, so we didn’t keep any pets after that, until Xavier came into our lives,” Ong recalled.
For Chin, losing their dog was especially painful. Although she had always loved animals, the experience left her afraid of becoming attached to another pet, only to lose it again.
“I loved our dog very much, but back then I didn’t really know how to take good care of pets,” she shared.
That slowly changed when their youngest daughter brought her own cat home one day.
Chin began noticing how adorable cats could be, and before long, she found herself spending time watching cat videos on Facebook. In the process, she was opening her heart to loving another animal again without realising it.
How a surprise gift changed everything
Seeing their mother’s growing interest in cats, the couple’s daughters decided to surprise Chin with Xavier as a gift, with their youngest daughter, Shiau Yuen, secretly bringing him home.
And it was love at first sight.
I was very surprised! I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. His pink nose and big round eyes were so cute!” Chin recalled.
During his first few days at home, the playful kitten quickly made himself comfortable, where he would run around the house, play with Ong and even sneak underneath Chin’s blanket at night.
As the days passed, Xavier slowly became part of the couple’s everyday routine and he gave them something to look forward to every day as there was a kitten to play with and care for.
Saved couple from thief
One particular incident made Chin appreciate Xavier even more, where the feline, who had yet to turn a year old, alerted her and Ong to a thief attempting to break into their house.
“The thief climbed onto our roof and Xavier kept coming to my bed and waking me up. Then I heard some noises, got up and shouted loudly to scare the thief away.
“I felt like Xavier protected me that night,” she recalled.
Thanks to Xavier’s heroics, it further cemented the bond between him and Chin, with Chin saying that she treats the cat like her own grandson.
From lonely afternoons to daily walks together
These days, the couple’s daily routine largely revolves around Xavier. Every morning, Ong brings him to sit near the door, where they’d spend time watching birds together.
For Chin, one of her favourite moments is feeding Xavier and seeing him enjoy his meals. “I feel so happy when I see him eating happily. I love seeing him with a full tummy!” she shared.
But the highlight of their day is undoubtedly their evening walks.
Interestingly, Chin was the one who first suggested bringing Xavier outdoors when he was still little as she wanted him to experience the world outside their home rather than spend all his time indoors.
“Whenever he sees insects or butterflies, he gets so excited and jumps around chasing them. It makes me so happy watching him!”
While most walks were peaceful and serene moments for both humans and feline to enjoy, there were also moments where Xavier would give in to his wilder side and cause chaos.
Becoming an internet star
If you’ve come across Xavier’s videos online, you might already know that he’s not exactly afraid of dogs. Despite being a cat, Xavier has developed a rather amusing habit of chasing after them.
The first time it happened, even Ong couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
I was very surprised the first time I saw him chasing a dog. I had to run after him and pull him back,” he laughed.
Ong found the situation equally unexpected and hilarious.
But neither of them imagined that Xavier’s fearless personality would one day attract so much attention online.
According to Ong, Shiau Yuen had been documenting Xavier’s life through photos and videos ever since he joined the family.
Then, during a visit home last October, she accompanied her parents and Xavier on one of their usual walks, where she happened to capture Xavier chasing a dog and decided to upload the clip to TikTok.
To their surprise, viewers found it hilarious and the positive response encouraged the family to continue sharing more of Xavier’s daily adventures.
Most of the videos are now filmed by Chin, while Shiau Yuen helps to edit and upload them.
“We were very surprised that Xavier became so popular online. At first, we just wanted to make people laugh. We never expected so many people to follow him,” admitted Ong.
Beyond making people laugh online, Xavier has also brought the couple unexpected experiences in real life.
Ong recalled one particularly memorable encounter during their usual walk, where they met a couple who were both police officers and happened to be Xavier’s fans.
Excited to meet the famous cat, the officers chatted with Ong and Chin and took pictures with Xavier. But the encounter didn’t end there.
The officers were attending a durian party organised by their running group and even invited Ong and Chin to join them.
For a couple whose social life had once become rather quiet after their children moved away, Xavier was now helping them connect with people they might otherwise never have met.
Cat mediator
While Xavier’s online popularity has been an unexpected bonus, the biggest change has happened quietly inside the couple’s home.
Ong admitted that having Xavier around has made his retirement feel much less lonely, and he particularly appreciates the affection Xavier shows him.
“His fur is so soft, and I love hugging him. Every time I go out, he will wait for me at the door until I come home.”
And like any married couple, Ong and Chin occasionally have disagreements. But according to Ong, Xavier has an amusing way of making those tense moments feel a little lighter.
Sometimes when my wife and I argue, we stop talking to each other. But when Xavier is beside me, I just talk to him, and soon I’m not angry anymore.”
He added that seeing Xavier often encourages both of them to give in to each other after an argument.
Caring for Xavier has also become something they do together, with Chin in charge of preparing his food and looking after his diet, while Ong handles cleaning up after him.
‘Having Xavier makes me feel young again’
At 71, Ong never expected a playful cat to have such a big impact on how he experiences growing older as Xavier’s energy and mischievous personality have given him something to look forward to every day.
“Now that I’m getting older, having such a playful and active cat at home makes me feel young and full of energy too,” he shared.
For Chin, Xavier has helped fill the loneliness she once felt at home.
“Caring for Xavier has made me more understanding of the bond people share with their pets. When you spend time with animals every day, you slowly grow closer to them.
“Xavier also taught me to be more caring towards animals and to appreciate every day and live a happier life.”
And while thousands of people may recognise Xavier as the fearless cat who chases dogs, to Ong and Chin, he will always be something far more precious.
For this retired couple, happiness didn’t arrive in the form of a grand retirement plan or an exciting new adventure.
Sometimes, it simply comes with four paws, a pink nose, and a little cat who has no idea just how much he means to them.
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