If you follow me on social media, you have probably seen
many pictures of a cat named Tusi. He is a cat that I rescued/adopted here in
Samoa. Unlike in the USA, pets in Samoa all typically serve a purpose. Pigs,
cows, and chickens are for food, horses are for transportation, dogs are to
protect the property, and cats are to get bugs, mice, and rats. Pets are not
just for pets’ sake here in Samoa. This is why the story of Tusi is a unique
one here.
I am a big pet person. I have had lizards, fish, hermit
crabs, dogs, and cats in my life. I love animals and enjoy them as company. I
even have a dog and cat back home waiting for me to come back (although I think
they are being very well taken care of). This is important to the story.
In May of my first year serving in Samoa, my group had
training in Apia. As we were walking to dinner one night, a few of us heard a
little meow. We stopped to try and find the source. We found this tiny little
kitten that seemed to be all alone. He was so little; we wondered where his
mother was because there was no way he would be able to survive on his own. We
couldn’t find his mother, but decided we would go to dinner and if he were
still there alone when we came back that we would figure out how to save him.
On the way back to our hotel, he was still there and no
mother in sight. We discussed who could take him. It’s not so easy to commit to
taking in a cat because some people have vicious dogs, other cats, live with
host families, etc. Even though I live with a family, I decided to take him
without consulting my family. We didn’t have any dogs or cats and hoped my
family would be okay with a cat.
I kept him in a hotel for a couple nights, trying to feed
him things like baby food or milk. He was so small that he could fit in one of
my hands and I could easily cover him with my other hand. After doing some
googling, I guessed he was about 3 weeks old. When I showed up at my house with
him, my host aunt was surprised that I had a cat. When I explained how I
acquired him, she thought it was sweet that I brought him home. My host dad was
less enthused, but accepted it. My host mom was out of the country so I got to
wait for her reaction.
During the first few weeks I had the cat, I would keep him
with me other than when I went to school. He was kept in my room during the day
and I would bring him out to sit in my lap at night. He loved lying on my books
while I read, which is how he got his name: Tusi. Tusi means ‘book’ in Samoan.
He eventually got big enough that I stopped worrying about
him dying. He was just so little and sickly when I first got him, I was almost
certain he would die. I surprised my Samoan family and neighbors by the amount
of attention and love I gave to this cat. I’m sure they thought I was crazy.
Eventually, the kids who lived around me as well as my host
cousins would come over and play with Tusi. One of my neighbors even to this
day will come over, say hi to me, then ask where Tusi is. When my host mom
eventually came home, she wasn’t very thrilled about a cat in the house, but it
was too late for her to tell me to get rid of him by that point. Although there
was one time she told me I’d have to get rid of him after he was locked in a
room all day and of course made a mess. She did get over it eventually though.
Tusi has become a part of not just my family, but my
village. The kids at my school ask me about Tusi sometimes. I have even found
Tusi roaming around the village by the church or at a neighbors’ house. He even
goes next door to catch the mice there, and then brings them to me.
Now as much as I love Tusi, he will be staying in my village
when I leave. He was raised to be a Samoan cat and he can fend for himself. I
know that there are enough people who live around my house who will take care
of him and love him when I am gone. Recently even, I was leaving my house and
Tusi followed me. Some kids said, “Fa Sana” (Bye Sana) and then saw Tusi and
yelled, “Fa Tusi!” (Bye Tusi). He is a beloved village cat and that’s a major
accomplishment for me.
