by Rudolph.A.Furtado
(Mumbai)
Mumbai’s oldest and most heavily guarded cat lives at American Library (American Centre) at Marine Lines in Mumbai.
This was a long pending article that I avoided writing since I am not allowed to photograph this old female mowgy cat and portray it on the site for viewers.
This tabby cat has been living at the “American Centre library” premises in Mumbai, a pet of the “American Centre”, a heavily guarded and protected area of Mumbai. I have been a regular visitor to the “American Library” since 1978 – a great help in updating my reading and writing skills….
Attached are two pictures of Ruby, the American Center, Mumbai cat; one is current and the other taken circa 2006. Ruby is at least 20 years old, but we don’t know her exact age, although she has been with us since she was a kitten.
The “cat house” referenced in the article is Buddy House at Sakarbai Hospital, started by a former Consular Chief, Fred Polasky and his wife, Maureen Riley. They still support Buddy House, and Buddy House would welcome your readers’ contributions in cash or kind. Maureen also still sends food and other items to Ruby regularly.
We appreciate your interest in Ruby!
Cheers, Anne
….Since 1990’s I noticed a cat – feed tray kept inside the huge “American Centre Building” premises, a heavily fortified building in Mumbai.
On occasions I observed a grey/white common female tabby using this luxurious feeding bowl, hence realising that this cat might not be an ordinary stray but a privileged tabby living in “V.I.P luxury”.
Over the years I occasionally saw this cat while visiting the library, seeing it age as did I!
Suddenly, over the years I completely forgot about this cat, busy with other proceedings in my personal life, rarely visiting the library. Since the last few years I again started visiting the library on a regular basis and to my astonishment saw this same cat, aged and thin, wondering if it was the same tabby of the 1990’s.
On inquiring with the staff I was told that it was the same old cat, now totally blind but well cared for and totally sheltered from the cruel world of stray moggie cats.
This cat roams the entire premises of the ground floor of the premises in Marine lines, akin to a “National Park”.Just yesterday, Saturday (25-6-2011) I had been to the library theatre to see the movie “Giant” and saw this giant of an aged feline lying motionlessly at the entrance path to the main building.
It has become painfully thin and I inquired about permission to photograph it for an article and refused the same. This cat has definitely been receiving the best of cat food and veterinary treatment since some people at the American Centre are ardent cat lovers; sponsoring a “cat house” for stray cats at the local veterinary hospital at Parel in Mumbai.
Most of the bloggers on “Pictures of cats” are from Europe and U.S.A and I request a citizen from the U.S.A to inquire about this particular cat from the “American Centre ” staff in Mumbai by either writing or speaking to them.
The longevity of this cat is extraordinary and I won’t be surprised if it is above 20 years of age. This cat is now in its twilight years and according to my estimation towards the end of its long, privileged life-span.
An article on this rare common Mumbai tabby with its photograph would be excellent reading for all cat lovers, both, on cat longevity and cat care.
The adress of “AMERICAN CENTRE” is as listed below.
The American Library
American Center
4 New Marine Lines
Mumbai 400020
Ph: 22624590
Fax: 22624599
E-mail: libref@state.gov
Hope of seeing a “PHOTOGRAPH” of this “ELUSIVE CAT’ of the “AMERICAN CENTRE” in Mumbai.
Rudolph
