Patrick Lupuzi walks across campus, making a distinctive clicking sound.
Within moments, cats emerge from beneath parked cars and shrubs to greet him. He offers them wet cat food to draw them closer so he can check on them and show them affection. Some are content with gentle grooming, while others eagerly wait for a scratch behind the ears.
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About 113 feral cats call the University of the Western Cape (UWC) home, along with a dog named Meisiehond, who wandered onto campus one day and never left.
The UWC Feral Cat Project (TUFCAT) was founded in 1997 by Dr Sharyn Spicer and the late Andre Oppelt to ensure that the resident cats are fed daily and receive sterilisation, veterinary care, and check-ups when needed. During the project’s first cat audit in 1999, there were about 165 cats on campus. Through its trap–neuter–return (TNR) programme, the cat population has been stabilised and gradually reduced over the years.
The cats also help the campus by preventing potential rodent problems. Starting at 6.20am, Lupuzi feeds the cats six days a week while the campus is still quiet. On Sundays, Spicer takes over.
34 kennel
The early-morning routine encourages the cats to emerge from their hiding places, giving him the opportunity to monitor their health and well-being. While the cats are occupied eating their wet food, Lupuzi moves from bowl to bowl, wiping each one clean before replenishing the dry food in the selected bowls inside the kennels. He also refreshes the water bowls in the 34 kennels scattered across campus. Some feeding stations are as far away as Unibell and Hector Pieterson Residence, making them among the furthest points on his daily route.
“I wasn’t actually a cat person at first. I mostly love dogs. But, as time went on, I’ve grown to love them,” says Lupuzi. He says looking after the cats is a major stress reliever and something he enjoys immensely. “The way they look at me and wait for me to feed them — it’s actually quite an experience.”
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