A must-visit for cat lovers: Stroll through the “Cat City” of Kuching

Written by Chi Binghui, compiled and reported; Source/MOOK Editorial Department

Many countries around the world worship certain animals as deities or use them as city symbols. The capital city of Kuching, located on the banks of the Sarawak River, is known as the “Cat City.” It boasts a romantic colonial charm and is also the largest city in East Malaysia.

On the riverbanks of Kuching, there used to be many trees called Mata Kuching. In Malay, "Kuching" means cat, so the cat became the representative animal of Kuching, making it the only city in the world that venerates cats. However, the “Cat City” doesn’t actually have cats roaming everywhere. Instead, you can find many cat statues at street corners. There are two prominent cat landmarks in the city center: one is a pristine white cat, and the other depicts nine cats symbolizing the nine divisions of Sarawak. During important festivals, these cat statues are dressed in festive outfits to add to the lively atmosphere.

Kuching is divided into South and North by the Sarawak River. The northern part is predominantly Malay, while the southern part is mainly Chinese, along with indigenous people, totaling about 700,000 residents. In order to the south

Like many ancient cities in Southeast Asia, Kuching is a melting pot of ethnicities from various countries, including Malays, Chinese, Indians, Indonesians, Filipinos, and more. With a mix of languages, it's a vibrant and lively place, much like an ethnic melting pot. Travelers don’t need to worry too much about the language barrier—speaking Chinese often works just fine.