The granny who left legacy of 100 cats in Lamu

By Maureen Mudi

She shared her house with about 100 cats, but now that she is dead, the beautiful felines have been left like orphans on Lamu Island.

Her former neighbours say, as Fatuma Paka lay on her deathbed, her greatest fear was the fate that would befall the beloved cats she was leaving behind.

Fatuma Paka (her second name means cat) had dedicated all her time, money, efforts and affection to ensuring her unique cats were properly catered for.

Mama Fatuma poses with one of her pets before she passed on. [PHOTO: Maarafu Mohammed/STANDARD]

"She had no other family… they were like her children," says former neighbour Ali Feizal.

She had committed herself to the cats so much she would go to the extent of begging money, and rather than buy herself food, she would feed the cats.

Hunger and loneliness

Fatuma’s former house stands desolate on an isolated corner of Lamu town, its wooden door fasted with a big rusty padlock.

She passed away early this year due to what neighbours say was age-related illness, but some say she was often hungry and lonely, save for the company of the cats.

She once lived with a female relative, who was more advanced in age and died earlier.

Her only consolation were the cats that had become close friends, sharing her house and enjoying warm meals of fish remains (offal) that she would collect from the market.

Mama Paka, as she was commonly referred to, was weakly, her skin wrinkled over her smiley face that made many who saw her marvel that she resembled her friends, the cats.

So cordial was the relationship between her and the cat family she would seek medical assistance for any that fell ill.

In an earlier interview with The Standard before her death, she said: "Some people claim I am a witch since I keep so many cats, but I am just fond of the animals and have raised them for most of my life."

When she passed away in January, all the cats were picked by a local animal clinic, which found them new homes.

According to Dr Kevin Sande, a veterinary surgeon at Lamu Animal and Welfare Clinic, all the female cats were spayed (surgical removal of an animal’s ovaries and the uterus) and males castrated to control their population.

Dr Sande says: "Mama Paka can rest assured her cats are safe, since some were taken in by a tourist who lives on Shella Island, while others were adopted by Lamu families," said Sande

"We think some of her cats still roam the marketplace but that is no cause for worry since we ensure they are healthy when they get into our clinic," he says.

There are approximately 10,000 cats on all the four main islands of the Lamu Archipelago, with about 3,000 to 4,000 of them on Lamu Island.

"Cats can give birth up to four times in a year and have as many as 16 kittens and thus if not controlled, can surpass the 20,000 population of Lamu residents," Dr Sande said.

The vet says the population is a big risk for the transmission of rabies adding that about 20 to 30 spays are carried out per day in Lamu.

The official says two field officers go out daily to collect stray cats and after treatment, they are taken back where they were found while the healthy ones are operated on.

The cats’ clinic

"We keep the young ones in the clinic and feed them until they are able to fend for themselves," he said.

The cats are fed on fish and rice and at times beef and other commercial foods.

The clinic, a charity organisation opened in 2004, is the only one that operates in Pate, Manda, Kiwayu and Lamu islands.

"There are few wild cats in Lamu. We give them to people like fishermen who feed them with offal from the fish," he said.

However, there are challenges at the clinic due to lack of facilities like machines to conduct blood tests, forcing them to send samples to Nairobi.

Also accessing the area is an expensive venture since the officers are required to use boats, which charge expensive fares.

The centre can accommodate up to 40 cats and those that die are buried at a cat "cemetery" at Wiyoni area.

Lamu cats have an uncommon physical appearance. Their distinctive thin bodies and high pointed ears resemble those of Bubastis, the ancient sculpture of the Egyptian cat goddess.

A popular theory suggests these cats may be the only remaining descendant of a breed of cats only found in ancient Egypt and now extinct in North Africa.

Arab traders may have carried them to this island outpost.

Other breeds have since been brought to the island, and as a result, the local gene pool has been distilled, says Dr Sande. Yet the distinct Lamu cat still survives among the narrow winding streets, and remains a remarkable reminder of the island’s long and exotic history.