Patience Nyange's Blog

…. my perspective, my worldview, my reflections…..The world as I see it…

Up and About

On Cats, Mombasa and Superstitions!

Share this
Jinxy with her prey-live grasshopper
Jinxy with her prey-live grasshopper

Ok, for starters, I have a beautiful cat called Jinxy. Please do not question the name…I have no idea what it means, I just find it pretty and yes, it suits my cat. Jinxy is one beautiful pet. I love her jovial nature and she brings a lot of joy in my life. Watching her move around the house, wrestle it out with her many boyfriends who seem to be waiting for her by the door every other day, makes me laugh. I have watched her fight with her boyfriends, I have watched her getting intimate with her 3 boyfriends when she is on heat and I had no choice but, just stare as these cats fight to get a piece of her.

Traped Cat in Mombasa
Trapped Cat in Mombasa

Every other day, as I leave the house, she runs over to the balcony and meows just like a small baby is being left by the mother. As I come back in the evening, guess she smells me from a far and immediately, she meows in a joyful manner as if to say…finally you are back home.  You know, I have been lonely all day long.  If hungry she will seem to be directing me to her little plates, a gesture to indicate, I need my plates filled with food and so, I obey.

Jinxy taking a rest.
Jinxy taking a rest.

So, why am I writing about my cat? This follows a story that caught my attention courtesy of Citizen TV news at 7pm last Wednesday. Seated, keenly watching news, I saw this story pop up and your guess is as good as mine. The news anchor, Swaleh Mdoe couldn’t stop laughing as he read this news item. Then, finally I see the footage of this little, helpless cat trapped in a jerrycan and struggling for her life.

Listening to the story, I am informed that the cat had been trapped in the 20 litre jerrycan for four days at village in Kiembeni, Mombasa. As if to entice the story, the villagers had refused to release the cat from that painful ordeal, basing their reasoning that the cat was a demon or was “sent.”

And true to their beliefs, Kiembeni residents gave testimonials as to why they wouldn’t save the cat believing that something “bad” will transpire to whoever rescued the cat. Of course, for many, this is not the first time we get to hear of superstitions concerning black cats or even cats in Mombasa. According to many, their worries were justified.

Jinxy taking a nap
Jinxy taking a nap

“A cat urinated on my head last year and since then I went bald.  No hair has ever grown,” said a resident pointing at a bald patch on his head.

“We have seen a male cat give birth to kittens, that only happens in Mombasa,” Added another one as if to strengthen their justification.

Ok, as one of the people who has lived in Mombasa, this leaves me a troubled woman. For how long will we hold to such superstitions?  For me, that was such a small incident, one needed to expand the jerrycan mouth and off the cat will be freed. But for an entire village to keep camping for four days, watching the helpless cat struggle for her/ his life that is beyond my comprehension. On this day and age, how long will we be bound to such kind of thinking? Who will save us out of this slave mentality?

Jinxy and her boyfriend playing.
Jinxy and her boyfriend playing.

I am left wondering, is this shear ignorance or a really case of lack of knowledge? As I put a full stop to this story,  I am grateful to Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) for saving the little cat. Now, I am waiting to hear more superstitions concerning the release of cat. Mombasa residents, I think it is time to get real!

Follow me on Social Media

Patience Nyange

I believe in a just society and I am a strong believer in Ralph Waldo Emerson words: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate and to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

7 thoughts on “On Cats, Mombasa and Superstitions!

  • thanx for your blog and the KSPCA for saving the cat b blessed

    Reply
    • To you too James, thank you for reading my blog. Yes, I am also grateful to KSPCA for saving the cat.

      Reply
  • Mmmh, an interesting one patience indeed. Talk of superstitions, i would like to know of any outcome by you seeing jinxy get intimate because as i grew up i was threatened never to see cats get intimate. You’ve ever heard of it? Funny. hahah

    Reply
    • Hehehehehe, I have not heard of people being threatened not to see cats getting intimate. Please keep me updated. What happens when one looks at them?

      Reply
  • mosesmwasaghua

    I guess it was because of the fact that rarely could we see them on the act if not at all, that we were told a relative could die or something of the sort. Generally it was considered a bad omen. Patience which side of mbale did you come from coz i though mbale was considered to be more advanced in this “section” hahah. I love your writting skills nontheless. Good scrip yes

    Reply
    • Mbale? Mmmm, maybe it was before I was born. Anyway, thank you for reading my blog and leaving your comment. It’s highly appreciated.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *