Skabenga celebrates ‘Purr’fect birthday
The feline celebrity even has his own Facebook page with more than 1 500 friends.
UMHLANGA’S most famous cat, Skabenga, celebrated his 10th birthday last week at the Oyster Box Hotel, with his traditional October High Tea. While his birthday guests had a ball at the party with cat shaped pizza’s, and other sweet treats, the cat of the hour preferred the outdoors, langourously lying under the hedge. (View the gallery)
It was the ‘purr’fect day for the feline celebrity.
Skabenga (which means hooligan or vagabond in Zulu), has been the resident cat at The Oyster Box for more than 10 years. It all started when he wandered onto the property as a stray, was fed tasty (expensive) titbits (prawns and seafood) by the guests and has never left, except briefly, during the building operations four years ago, when he was cared for by a cat-lover over the two year renovation period.
Oyster Box spokeswoman, Joanne Hayes, said Skabenga even has a favourite couch and takes his daily ‘inspection’ strolls around the hotel and is back enjoying the spoils that come with being the ‘main cat’ on the block.
“Skabenga remains a favourite of both locals and guests. The general manager receives letters from previous guests, asking after him or if there is a book about him and he even has his own Facebook page with more than 1 500 friends,” Hayes said.
Skabenga was recently diagnosed as being ‘overweight’ and is now on a controlled diet. He has three kilograms to lose (a lot for anybody, never mind a cat) in order to reach his goal weight, which should take approximately six months. He will be strictly monitored and attend a bi-monthly weigh-in at the vet.
