THE SINGAPORE CATS

SINGAPORE CATS

Peter Collis of Australia could observe by himself how the Singapore "drain cats" are surviving in the center of the city.
His message translates very well what is the amazement and admiration one can feel for these cats, at first sight.
Here under is what he reported in an e-mail.

Thanks for your wonderful website on drain cats.
When visit the city last June, I was amazed at the number of intriguing drain cats which occupied the cbd. Also of interest were their apparent relationships with the humans. Food was often left out for these thin and hungry creatures, and the cats would wait around at night for their human acquaintances to attend to them, or not!
Even on busy Orchard Rd, I saw one cat waiting beside a parking attendant's booth, seeking human company. It is as if the cats of Singapore are expectantly awaiting for the human population to come to their senses, awaken from their high-rise supercity-induced forgetfulness, and adopt their would-be feline friends into their homes, where they might take up their time-honoured place in the world of humanity.

I was also stunned to read in the Straits Times that many Singaporeans like to import expensive long-hair cats from overseas, in preference to all those free little strays already on their doorsteps. Think how the city-dwelling humans could reduce their stress by keeping company with furry drain cat friends!

I'm glad you are able to observe the territorial and hierarchical behaviours of this semi-feral community. Please keep reporting on this.

Peter Collis. (Oct 98)

^{NOTES:

*CBD= central business district- traffic restricted zone in the commercial and shopping central area of Singapore

*Orchard Road - the very heart of the upper class shopping areas in Singapore; very busy

*Straits Times: daily local newspaper in English}

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