Crumbs! No cake for the birthday boy…
Petted and paraded, Skabenga, in the arms of Sally Gray, the hotel's sales manager, was the centre of attention on Tuesday. Petted and paraded, Skabenga, in the arms of Sally Gray, the hotel's sales manager, was the centre of attention on Tuesday.
Durban -
Decked out in a brand new collar – a bling one of course – Durban’s most famous cat, Skabenga, celebrated his 13th birthday in style on Tuesday with a lavish party.
But although the celebratory spread at his home at the five-star Oyster Box Hotel in uMhlanga boasted an array of scrumptious treats, from cat-shaped sandwiches to a special cake bearing his famous face, the birthday boy didn’t down a morsel.
The chubby celebrity, whose taste for the good life has boosted his vital statistics, is on a diet and watching his waistline. His favourite food these days is Hills Pet Nutrition.
“He just loves it,” says the hotel spokeswoman, Joanne Hayes, who attended the birthday party along with 100 children, mothers and grandmothers.
Skabenga, whose name means “hooligan” in Zulu, has 3kg to lose and will be having regular weigh-ins to monitor his progress.
A one-time stray, he wandered into the Oyster Box and took up residence after realising he was on to a good thing,
Skabenga loves it when the red carpet is rolled out.
He famously plonked himself down on the carpet before the arrival of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, and sported a specially made Manchester United outfit when the famous football team stayed at the hotel.
Every year, he gets a new collar for his birthday from a sponsor, and now boasts quite a bejewelled wardrobe.
But he doesn’t like too much of a fuss. He often likes to keep to himself, and put in the briefest of appearances at Tuesday’s birthday bash.
“He might be the king of the castle, but it’s on his terms,” said Hayes.
* Donations collected at the party went to Feral Cat Rescue.