One of the first faces you’ll meet at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi isn’t human — it’s Sammy the Cat. Ever since the tragic demise of PK the Bird, she’s stepped up as our one and only Official Pet. Curious how she joined the crew?
Well, once upon a not-so-charming time, our kitchen had a serious rat issue. We scrubbed dishes like our lives depended on it. Hung food up like decorative fruit. Plugged every suspicious-looking hole. We even (briefly) thought about poison. But those rats? Still partying like it was 1999.
Then Brenda, one of our lifers here, came out with a gem: “Why not just get a cat?” Ancient wisdom, really.
Enter Sammy. Tiny, moody, and not even slightly keen on staying put. We’d brought her in to chase rats, but instead found ourselves chasing her. Every. Single. Day.
That was until Serene suggested we try a local ‘initiation ritual’. It involved soaking a stool in milk and seeing if the cat accepts the kitchen as her new domain. Sounds a bit mad, right? But lo and behold, Sammy slurped up the milk — and decided to stay. Magic? Maybe. Or just top-notch milk.
Now, don’t be alarmed if you hear a deep, haunting meow echoing through the compound. That’s just Sammy and her baritone. In the early days, the teachers were convinced she was possessed by Nyabingi (a local spirit with a flair for drama). Cue panic, prayer circles, and some very confused stares from Sammy.
These days, she struts around like she owns the place. Which, let’s be honest, she probably does. She wails constantly (no clue why), chases anything with wings, and scales trees like she’s showing off for a jungle audition.
As for food? Sammy is a connoisseur. Cooked meat? Don’t insult her. She wants it raw and preferably something she hunted herself. Leftovers? Please. She’s got standards.
And the rats? Vanished. Word clearly got out: *this is Sammy’s turf now*.
photos by Brenda Katusiime