Pussy in the Pot?

Feral cats are a long-term problem in Australia: They kill native fauna for food and are a pesky nuisance.

Northern territory environmentalist Kaye Kessing, who lives in Alice Springs, has hit the headlines in Australia by her innovative solution to the pests: eat them first! She described a Sunday lunch she cooked featuring a “catterole” of feral cats she caught and skinned on her property. The Age newspaper recently recounted that fried with onions and garlic and served with chutney, the dish was a surefire hit and her guests all asked for more. Kessing says cat is a sweet, white meat that tastes similar to rabbit and chicken.

She has also experimented with Feral Cat and Quandong (native peaches), sauteeing cat meat with lemongrass, salt and pepper to taste, adding peaches and a dash of spinach and bush plum. Roast Feral Cat (seasoned, baked and served with lemongrass gravy) is another favourite.

Obviously the Cat Protection Society is up in arms, protesting that this behaviour will only encourage cruelty to animals, but Ms Kessing points to Asia where cat and dog are regulars on the menu and also suggests dining on wild rabbit and camel in a bid to reduce threats to native wildlife. In Australia, kangaroo and emu are readily available in supermarkets and delicatessens and no-one bats an eyelid.

Will Pussy in the Pot catch on? Over to you!