Buzz
Kuching in Malaysia is where both locals and tourists encounter the presence of cats everywhere, from its name to its landmarks.
The cat-centric city haunts both locals and tourists visiting Malaysia.
Kuching, the capital and most populous city of Sarawak, Malaysia, holds a mysterious connection to cats, with its name being largely shrouded in legend and speculation. The imagery of cats permeates the city's life, from its history to its culture and modern-day living.
In Kuching, cats are omnipresent. From the airport to the city center, a giant white cat waves at tourists along the outer ring road of the Chinatown district, while near the mosque, a family of cat-like robots stares intently at passersby. Cat sculptures adorned with street art style graffiti are scattered around the buildings.
Located north of the city hall of Kuching, the Cat Museum stands out as a must-visit if you want to delve into various cat species and their relationship with the city situated on the island of Borneo, renowned for its orangutans. Amir, a staff member at the Cat Museum, explains: “The obsession with cats in this place stems from the city's name. ‘Kucing’ means ‘cat’ in Malay.”
Standing amidst numerous exhibits depicting the 5,000-year history of cats, Amir explained some theories behind the origin of the name “Kuching”. Some believe that when the first Rajah of Sarawak, an Englishman named James Brooke, arrived in Kuching around 1839, he pointed to the settlement and asked its name. A local resident thought he was pointing at a passing cat, so he replied 'Kucing'. Others suggest the city was named after a type of tree once grown here. The fruit of this tree is called ‘Mata kuching’, meaning ‘Cat’s eye’, resembling a lychee. The final hypothesis about the unique name of this city is that it was named when people discovered a species of short-tailed cats living along the Sarawak River flowing through the city.
Kuching is a multicultural city, home to Malays, Chinese, and Indians, as well as indigenous tribes such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Melanau. Cats hold significant meanings for each group living here. For example, for the Chinese, cats symbolize luck. Over centuries, cats have also been revered by those following Islam - the predominant religion among indigenous tribes on the island of Borneo. The prophet Muhammad had a cat named Muezza.
Residents of Borneo hold a deep affection for cats as they help control insects. In the 1950s, the authorities used chemicals to eradicate mosquitoes and rats carrying malaria. After these chemicals adversely affected the cat population in the area, the Royal Air Force conducted an operation called “Operation Cat Drop”, releasing 14,000 cats into rural areas in Borneo, Malaysia.
The imagery of cats has deeply ingrained into the life of this city. Colorful giant cat family statues atop fountain plinths, mischievous cat sculptures cast in bronze along the riverbanks… are just some of the things you'll easily spot. Here, there's I-CATS - Sarawak's International College of Technology - or Cats FM - the local radio station. At the city’s highest point, on a tall column, stands the figure of Lady Justice and a golden cat, along with four white cats below.
If you want to meet real cats, you can visit the Meow Meow Cat Café, near the Sarawak River and about 5 km south of the Cat Museum. Owner Janet and the café's founders believed they had to open a cat café for those who couldn't afford to keep cats at home. “Currently, we have 6 cats of different breeds,” she said. Here you'll encounter guests playing with various breeds like Kiwi, a large fluffy white cat; Suria, a regal Bengal; Honey, a round-eyed Persian, or a long-haired gray cat named April…
According to Esther/The Star
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourJune 30, 2017
