Cats of Morocco
Marrakech is crawling with cats. In fact, everywhere I went during three weeks touring Morocco – with the exception of the Sahara Desert – there were cats. They looked well fed and even the strays around the tourist sites and historic buildings seemed to be able to scratch out a meal from some kind soul. Skilled scavengers, I guess.
I started taking photos of the different cats I saw, but found that after a while there were just too many. There were black cats, grey cats, orange cats, white cats, and once, in Rabat, even what looked like a pure-bred Siamese. Like cats everywhere, they were playful, sleepy, hungry, keen for a pat (I resisted that temptation) or to rub up against a tourist’s ankles.
The colour and chaos of Morocco was fascinating and I’ll have more of it on upcoming blog posts, but for now – because it is Friday and I am time-poor today – here’s just a few of the cats I met in Morocco, and some tips on how you can help them.
The first cat I photographed in Morocco was this kitten playing around the Saadian tombs in the Kasbah in Marrakech.
At the fish market in the coastal town of Essaouira, this hopeful puss had its eye on the main chance…a fish something like a barracuda. Markets usually had plenty of cats hanging around, waiting for an opportunistic feed.
Life in a rug shop at Essaouira. You’d think he would choose a more comfy spot than the table top!
In late November, it was quite cold out of the sun, but the cats know well how to find the warm sheltered spots. These two shared a doorway in the medina of Essaouira.
Looking for a drink…no better place to find water than at a public water fountain in Fes.
Dwarfed by the grandeur of the Royal Stables in Meknes, the cats that roam here are a great contrast to the 12,000 horses that once called them home.
Snoozing on a window sill in the Kasbah of Morocco’s capital, Rabat, with the shadow of the security bars creating a “cage”. Some parts of the Kasbah feature streets painted in gorgeous shades of blue.
This ginger puss met us at the gates of The Chellah, the old fortress and Roman ruins at Rabat, and accompanied us for about an hour as we walked around. Along the way, it struck a perfect pose for me.
It was also one of the most playful cats we met, performing some funny acrobatics on a rope barrier.
Cat-napping in Rabat. What cats do everywhere.
Travellers to Morocco often want to help the many homeless cats they see. One way of doing this is by donating to SPANA, an international animal welfare charity with a branch in Marrakech. They treat, rescue, and care for stray cats and dogs (as well as working animals like donkeys, mules, and horses; more on that in a later blog). SPANA also offers affordable veterinary treatment for low income pet owners, and runs adoption programs for rescued cats, helping find caring homes for them. While most tourists adopt an animal and take it home, donating money or food helps SPANA to continue its vital work. Donating cat food helps free up funds to be used for other work, such as vaccinating, spaying and treating for fleas and worms.
A Glass Half Full travelled in Morocco as a guest of Sydney-based Morocco specialist tour company By Prior Arrangement.
A Glass Half Full 
One Response to “Cats of Morocco”
Wonderful images. Love a cat piece meowwwwww