Cats

(10 Nov ’06)

            One quiet afternoon in Taleigaon….now that’s rare, for Taleigaon is full of hooting, bleating traffic all day long, but that’s another story… the peace was disturbed by the distressing yowl of a cat. It seemed close by, so I tried to trace it. A housewife in the building across indicated to me that it was on her terrace. It was actually the ledge above her window. How it got there is one of life’s mysteries, for there isn’t any approach to it. Anyway, I nearly dialed for the fire brigade when this creature took a leap, and whilst I pressed my palms to my cheeks and held my breath, she bounced off the first floor balcony, onto a pipe and thence to the ground. She was still for a second, then she limped away, probably with minor injuries. The housewife and I waved in relief and I went back to my work (no siesta for me, no rest for the wicked, remember?). It must have been about an hour later that I heard the desperate wail again. I thought she was injured badly or perhaps been hit by a passing car (am really surprised Taleigaon isn’t leading in automobile caused injuries). Again, it seemed strangely familiar. I couldn’t believe it. That cat was back where she’d jumped off from. This time, though, she was terrified, having experienced a torn ligament or something, and had to be rescued by an adventurous, animal-loving man.

            There was a fisherwoman who used to come to Porvorim, who had a pet feline that walked alongside like a dog would. When she was tired, she hopped onto the basket and took a ride.

            The cats at Subodh Kerkar’s and at Nilaya are attractions in themselves. Come to think of it, other than the west coast, I’ve never seen so many cats in markets or people’s homes in any other part of the country. They’re there, but discreetly so. Here, they are a major part of our lives. Go to any market and you’ll see how. Watch the little kittens playing with a tiny string or twig. There isn’t anything as entertaining. Watch them chew the titbits they get from the fish trimmings. Little tigers and tigresses, no wonder they’re known as waghahchi maushis (maternal aunts of the tiger). One cat at my mom’s place in Canacona has no voice. She opens her mouth as if to say something, opens it wide and shows that she’s putting in effort, but no sound comes out. Can creatures be born without a voice? My ENT friend tells me yes, if there’s something wrong with the mechanism or a particular nerve leading to the voice-box. Am surprised that more hotels and restaurants haven’t kept cats…well fed ones, so they don’t beg…for guests to enjoy watching.

            Those who believe that cats are smart aught to observe them. We had one who used to jump and knock at the latch so we could open the door to let it in. We were on the ground floor, but it never came in through the window.

             One at Panaji market recognized me and whenever, wherever I parked my two-wheeler, she somehow traced me out and mewed until I gave her some velyo to eat.

            Nevermind the domestic felines. Wonder what’s happening to the big cats of Goa. I haven’t read much about their well being in a long time. I hope Goans haven’t forgotten that in the long run, their wealth lies not in taxis and bars but in the fauna and flora that draw their customers to this state. Sanctuaries must be fiercely protected. Not by the government but by the locals if they want to make sustained money out of tourism. The beaches are dead if not dying. The forest cover still remains. Hopefully, we will now see sense and protect it. Large cats are indicators of forest health. May their numbers increase.

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