Cat flap as seafaring Colin's flies home

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Globetrotting cat Colin's has survived an ocean cruise and two media bunfights to rejoin her friends at the New Plymouth docks.

Three weeks ago, second engineer Jeong Yun-Seok took Colin's on to the methanol tanker Tomiwaka for a feed and a sleep.

But the pair awoke to find they were steaming to Korea.

A Port Taranaki official brought Colin's home from Korea yesterday - setting off a squabble among media wanting access to the celebrity cat at Auckland Airport.

Two TVNZ crews were said to be arguing about access to Colin's, and the Herald was rumoured to have "stitched up" exclusive rights to the quarantine area. In fact, the Herald simply asked to go in.

The fuss ended when the Herald and a Holmes crew were allowed to see Colin's in a media room while a TVNZ team, two other TV cameras and a photographer waited outside.

The media frenzy was almost as bad in Korea, where Port Taranaki tanker terminal superintendent Gordon MacPherson said he was surrounded by four pushy television crews.

The BBC, Reuters and other overseas news groups have also seized on the story of Colin's.

Mr Jeong grew so fond of Colin's that Mr MacPherson said it was a happy and sad occasion when he was reunited with the cat on the Tomiwaka at Yeosu.

Mr MacPherson opened Mr Jeong's door, and said "Hello Colin's".

The cat purred, but Mr MacPherson said she had been spoiled rotten by Mr Jeong and seemed to have mixed feelings about being rescued.

Man and cat were surrounded by four television cameras on the dock, and one followed the pair to their hotel room.

Back in Auckland, the 13-year-old tortoiseshell seemed happy when let out of her cage after 22 hours.

She was less happy when put back in the cage for a connecting flight to New Plymouth, where she was made an honorary ambassador for the district.