August 31, 2021
Who would have thought upholding safety at sea would mean caring for a cat and her new litter of kittens on board an LNG carrier?
For those on board the Lobito’s journey from Singapore to La Reunion, this was just the case when a pregnant cat decided to leave Singapore behind and stowed away on board the vessel.
After departing Singapore, the presence of the cat was detected when an eagle-eyed crewmate noticed an unusual shadow lurking while on the bridge lookout. The crew began setting up traps and leaving food out with the hopes of catching the cat. She proved to be elusive – sneaking into traps and grabbing food before stealthily making her escape.
While searching for the elusive mother cat, the crew found her four kittens. Fortunately, the Master on board was an experienced cat owner who took charge of instructing the crew on their care. The crew quickly adopted the kittens as Lobito mascots by naming them after the Teekay Gas fleet teams – Clyde, Forth, Spey, and Tay. With an expert leading the front, the kittens were well cared for and fed. Mama cat, dubbed “Merlion” after the famous statue in Singapore, was eventually found. The crew even made toys for the felines and played with the kittens regularly.
United by a love for animals, the Lobito’s vessel manager assisted a push to find a foster or forever home for the cats on shore. As the vessel approached La Reunion, the crew contacted the agent appointed to Lobito about the situation. The agent, another feline friend, volunteered to foster the cat and her kittens until they could be adopted.
We are happy to report that Merlion and her litter have all found their forever homes. In fact, Lobito’s agent in La Reunion was quick to fall in love with Merlion and adopted her along with two of her kittens.
What a memorable experience for Team Lobito! We are proud of our colleagues on board for their unwavering commitment to the safety of life at sea – no matter how big or small!
Enjoy this photo gallery of Merlion and her two kittens, Sunny, and Lobito.
