Cat City: Kuching’s Feline Fixation

Some visitors to Kuching wander about the city’s fixation with all things cat. They’ll be pleased to know the clue’s in the name.

Indeed, after a few days spent exploring this vibrantly multicultural centre of Borneo, with its feline museum, pussy statues and ever-present moggy graffiti, they’ll struggle to think of a more apt title.

Read more: Wat Phu Champasak: The Ruined Temple Guarding Laos’ Past.

‘Kuching’ means ‘cat’ in Malay. The stories of its origins are as varied as they are apocryphal. Some tales, for example, revolve around James Brooke, the first Rajah of Sarawak, while others focus on lychees. But one thing’s for sure. As visitors traipse the iconic waterfront or visit the Upside Down Museum, they’ll never be far from the watchful gaze of a kitty.

For a slightly more exotic beastie, why not read about our encounter with an orangutan?