Sanjana, I hear all the cool kids are going to a new Sydney landmark called “friendly orange cat”. What is this new kitty club and how do I get in?
That’s right, Emma. Locals are putting friendly felines on the map, literally. They’re listing good-natured suburban cats as tourist attractions on Google Maps, with photos, ideal viewing times and reviews, so others can find these adorable furry friends too.
There is no shortage of interest either, with locals making the trek to see these “hidden gems”.
OK, so two weeks ago we were lining up to sniff a corpse flower, but now we’re seeking comfort from friendly felines?
It started with a “friendly orange cat” in Sydney’s north-west, who became a celebrity on Instagram; Eastwood’s “friendly orange cat” racked up 117 reviews with a 4.9 rating. That’s a better rating than some fine-dining establishments in Sydney.
Better than my Uber rating. What are reviewers commenting on?
Visitors are evaluating a cat’s overall behaviour: enthusiastic purring, chonkiness, politeness and general adorability. One reviewer commented that “friendly orange cat must have been a dog in another life”.
Sick burn. Perhaps there should be extra points for cats that don’t pose a risk to our native animals. Just a thought.
Maybe that’s what’s happened to Eastwood’s “friendly orange cat” who has already vanished from Google Maps – perhaps she’s now an indoor cat?
But there are more pattable outdoor cats. There’s a friendly tabby in Rosebery, a friendly orange cat in Haymarket, and more affectionate kitties are popping up on Google as we speak.
It’s cat-ching on, geddit?
Oh boy.
This isn’t the first time locals and tourists have been enamoured of local cats. They’re leaving paw prints all around the world. A portly puss named Gacek was the top tourist attraction in Szczecin, Poland a couple of years ago. Our friends in New Zealand have their own friendly orange cat in Dunedin and Canada’s friendly neighbourhood cat resides in Vancouver.
Why is this happening?
Out of the darkness of the times we live in, local heroes arise. The heroes? Suburban felines. As a low-cost, instant endorphin boost, the draw is obvious.
Move over, Moo Deng! One last question: is any of this real? If I rock up to Carlingford to meet Louie the Friendly Cat will he be there?
Hard to say.
Photos and video evidence posted about Eastwood’s ginger star suggest this cat is legit – but people who did not visit the cat (and declared so in their review) also gave her a star rating.
Louie, on the other hand, could very well be a prank (he has no reviews yet) – but watch out world, he could be the new Pesto the Penguin, AKA Sydney’s furriest new attraction.
