Durban’s feral cat hotel a welcome upgrade for the Golden Mile

Neatly tucked away in a shady nook is Suncoast Casino’s Happy Cat Hotel which shelters a colony of feral cats, affectionately referred to as the Sun Cats of the Golden Mile.

Kelly Graham, communications manager for Suncoast said the “hotels” were an unexpected venture that came about during Suncoast’s R1.6 billion redevelopment in 2017, reports Northglen News.

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“During Suncoast’s refurbishment project, there was concern that the cat community could be unsettled, scared, hurt and possibly even scattered during the construction. Our Sun Cats are part of our family and we just knew we needed to do the best thing for them and provide them with homes that offer shelter, food, and a sense of belonging. A friendly place where there is always fresh water and food,” added Graham.

Cousins Pauline Tribe and Rose Magic have been taking care of the cats for nine years since they saw them crying for food when they parked at Suncoast to take a stroll on the promenade. Cheryl Bradfield joined the team four years ago when she was taking a jog on the promenade and saw Tribe and Magic feeding their cat colony.

“We blend three varieties of tinned cat food into a kind of smoothie because the cats don’t like the lumps in the food. They like the gravy and would lap that up and then we would find these lumps left over. I thought that was a waste so I decided to blend the food,” said Magic.

When well-managed, feral cat colonies provide many benefits to surrounding communities and businesses. Feral cats that are sterilised will deter other ferals from coming into the area, which in turn benefits domestic cats, who will undoubtedly end up in a lot fewer midnight fights.

Feral cats are also an excellent and sustainable pest control alternative. In addition, caring for animals has numerous health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and stress levels.

The team said they spend about R10,500 per month, excluding vet bills.

For more information call, Cheryl Bradfield on 082 510 6762.

Additional reporting by Nica Schreuder

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