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The culling of the Isla Cuale’s healthy cats on February 2 at least half neutered and spayed and the others scheduled to be fixed came as a complete shock, not only to me and fellow gringos, but also to Mexican animal activists. We had imagined the beautiful island in the center of town to be a cat sanctuary, a model of sustainability that would ultimately result in a deeper appreciation for these creatures in a culture that disdains them yet values their rat-catching expertise. (Happily, of course there are exceptions to that statement, but the bulk of Mexicans I talk to about how much I love my cats look at me like I have rocks in my head.)
So knowing this, how naïve it was to assume they would be safe on City property! Blithely, we assumed that since we had ensured their reproduction was negligible and any kittens removed as soon as weaned and tens of thousands of dollars and hours had been devoted to their welfare they would be left alone. After all, who were they hurting? They certainly weren’t begging for food, with designated locals feeding them daily and tourists bearing bountiful platters of tuna, chicken and steak for these creatures food that my neighbors can’t afford to feed their families.
Well, as Ann Landers used to say, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. There is much to be learned from this.
From the perspective of the municipality, which owns and manages the island, and the business owners on it, including ritzy restaurants, the island was overpopulated with predators creating bad smells and eliminating the tropical birds and iguanas that once flourished there.
So who is to blame? My feeling is, what’s the point of that when the energy it takes can be redirected to not only finding homes for the remaining island cats, but also gaining the cultural sensitivity to avoid painful incidents like this in the future.
More cross-cultural communication and respect is obviously needed. Every day more and more people eagerly move here and are warmly invited to do so. So it is to the benefit of everyone to learn how to keep the love affair going; we all want to live in a Vallarta where our voices matter. What happened to the cats, how it happened, and the fallout from it is a metaphor for cultural differences on a grander scale. So how we handle this and move forward will affect the quality of life for every creature, man included, living and visiting here.
The good news is that 30 island cats have already been adopted, with about the same number in shelters or foster care waiting for someone to take them home.
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about what you’re reading, you’re encouraged to let me know at heather@mexmags.com.
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