A Home of Cats: Belthangady couple cares for over 150 felines

Team Udayavani, Oct 18, 2024, 10:58 AM IST

In a quiet village of Belalu, within Belthangady taluk, resides a unique household that has become home to more than 150 cats. The home belongs to Rajesh Gowda and his wife, Seethamma, who have devoted their lives to caring for these felines, treating them like their own children in the absence of human offspring. The couple, who married in 2002, has built an extraordinary sanctuary for cats, despite not being wealthy.

 The Origin: Chomu, the First Cat

Eleven years ago, the couple began domesticating a female cat named Chomu, and since then, her descendants have multiplied, creating a large feline family. What started with one cat has grown into a bustling community of cats, with Chomu’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren populating the home.

Despite their humble means, Rajesh and Seethamma Gowda continue to care for these cats with love and dedication. The couple lives in a small house with a modest farm nearby, growing areca nut, coconut, and betel leaves. They also rear two cows and two calves. The income from these activities sustains their livelihood, but the couple spares no effort when it comes to feeding and caring for the cats. Generous supporters and animal lovers who lend a hand could ease their burden and double their enthusiasm.

Rajesh and Seethamma provide the cats with a variety of food, including rice, chicken, omelets, and bakery items. They spend around Rs 250 to Rs 350 daily on feeding the cats. Interestingly, some of the cats are pure vegetarians, refusing to eat meat. These cats are fed milk, rice, curd, and bakery items instead. Some of them even avoid eggs.

Every afternoon and evening, Rajesh Gowda visits nearby hotels, bakeries, and chicken shops in Belalu to collect leftover food for the cats. The sight of the cats rushing to their feeding spot as soon as they hear the sound of his two-wheeler is heartwarming.

A Special Shelter for the Cats

Recognizing the need for a proper space for the cats, the couple has built a dedicated shelter. The shelter includes water facilities, sleeping areas, and is cleaned regularly. There is also adequate lighting to ensure the cats are safe and comfortable.

The story of how Rajesh and Seethamma began caring for cats has an emotional backstory. Years ago, the couple owned a cow named Chomu, which they had to sell under unavoidable circumstances, leaving them heartbroken. To ease their sorrow, they brought home a cat, naming it Chomu as well. The bond grew from there, and now their house is home to generations of cats.

A Sanctuary for Stray Cats

Some locals bring stray cats to Rajesh and Seethamma’s home, but most of the cats have found their way to the couple on their own. Though the couple lacks the financial means to care for so many animals, they cannot refuse help to any cat in need. They even recall a family that recently moved away and had to leave their cat behind, parting with it in tears.

Despite the large number of cats, the couple has never given away a single kitten. Their wish is that every kitten born in their home stays and plays on their property. While there are dogs around their home, the cats have befriended them, and, on occasion, even monitor lizards have been seen wandering around with the cats.

Rajesh and Seethamma have also faced sorrow, having lost some cats in accidents when vehicles hit them on the road or when stray male cats attacked the kittens at night. The couple tearfully recalls these incidents, highlighting the challenges of maintaining such a large cat family.