Kats of Kuwait

Welcome to the latest pictorial journey through the exciting district of Hawalli, Kuwait! This is in response to the constant requests from my mother to post some pics of the random and numerous wild cats wandering the urban jungle we call Hawalli.

We begin our journey, just outside the doors of the American Creativity Academy Teacher Housing Complex........

Now, here in Kuwait there is an overabundance of wild cats roaming the streets. Apparently, their original and sole purpose was a heroic one - to attack, eat and exterminate the ridiculous amounts of rats that had moved in during and after the Iraqi Invasion of 1991. Well those wonderful beasts imported from Egypt did their job well - one doesn't find rats here anymore! However, it appears the powers that be didn't consider what to do with these heroes once the rat population had been decimated. They continued to repopulate themselves while living off the over-flowing garbage bins and refuse lying around. See Exhibit A......

and Exhibit B..........

From a distance, they may look like cute and cuddly little creatures of delight, but beware - they are feral!!! They carry all types of disease that make them walking beasts of death! No, you cannot pet them or even get close to them because they will suddenly attack you. Here is a story to show you their lunacy.

One night, my friend Gillian and I were enjoying a nice meal sitting outside at a restaurant along the Arabian Gulf. We were deep in conversation when we heard a rustle in the nearby bushes and a low, deep throated growl accompanied by a vicious hiss. Our conversation halted as we looked towards the unearthly sound........there on the ledge, 2 feet away from us sat this angry, mangy cat! It had scruffy, black fur that was missing in places and had a gray patch on its hindquarters that looked as though it was possibly white at one time. Its eyes had this wild, glowing, crazed looked in them and they were unevenly set in its face. We quickly averted our eyes, but it stared directly at us as it continued to utter demonic howls. It stalked along the ledge, back and forth, viciously whipping its crooked tail while waiting for us to toss it some food. It finally passed from our table and went on to another poor, unsuspecting victim, attempting to intimidate them into surrendering their delectable meal. Now, the one rule regarding the wild cats here = DO NOT make eye contact with them!!! Whatever you do, do not look directly at their eyes, or these psychotic beasts will attack, sending you to the hospital for innumerable shots and possibly, even certain death.

One of my students went to pet one of these beasts that live by her house and it bit her. She quickly came down with a raging infection and was rushed to the hospital where she was kept for 5 days! When doing a "My Biggest Fear" writing assignment, over 20 students stated that their greatest fear was the wild cats that roam the streets!

So the moral of today's frightening tale......beware of the Kats of Kuwait as you never know what dangers lurk beneath their fuzzy exterior.......

Now, on to a rant.......we seem to have a problem with the cats in our specific block due to "some people" (I will avoid using names at the risk of sounding "catty" hahahahah........) feeding them everyday!!!!

Please!!!! For the sake of everyone's physical and emotional health - stop feeding the wild cats!

Because of the constant food supply, these beasts lurk around the building and stand watch for anyone who looks weak enough to give in to their deceivingly sympathetic looks. I have seen up to 6 cats outside the doors at one time! **shudder** The other day, we pulled up to the building and as I got out of the car I was confronted by 3 of these rufians giving me their devious look. My scream somewhat startled both the cat gang and my friend, but alas my fear of them was greater than their fear of me and they stood their ground. Finally, by dashing around 4 parked cars I was free of their glares and safe in the foyer of the building. A tragedy was narrowly averted that day. Tomorrow, I or some other unsuspecting victim may not be so lucky........