Rescued kitten has ruled the port ever since

By SCOTT MacLEOD transport reporter

The kitten lying on the Taranaki coast was just a handful of fluff when Colin Butler slipped her into his pocket about 13 years ago.

The cat that became known as Colin's spent two weeks in that pocket before taking her first steps at the Port Taranaki tanker terminal.

Today, Colin's is known worldwide for stowing away on a methanol tanker bound for Korea.

But in her early years, she was known only to ship and port workers - as the friend who ate when they ate, who followed them around the docks, who would venture onto New Zealand ships but never onto a foreign one.

As she grew, Colin's purged her territory of feral cats and drove off any non-human that ventured into the tanker terminal, including dogs.

But she was always friendly to people, and especially children.

"She was such a happy little soul," former tanker terminal manager Mr Butler said from his retirement home in Brisbane yesterday. "She's a very intelligent cat, with her own spirit, quite extraordinary."

Koreans loved her immediately, despite their fondness for cat soup. Korean sailors would yell, "Where's cat?" whenever they visited Port Taranaki.

A Korean engineer took Colin's onto the tanker Tomiwaka for a feed three weeks ago, just before it left port.

This weekend Whiskas petfood will pay for terminal superintendent Gordon MacPherson to fly to Yeosu to meet Colin's when she arrives in port - and fly her back home.

After two days' seasickness, Colin's found her sealegs.

Auckland animal psychologist Mark Vette said Colin's seemed to be smart and resourceful, but he warned there was still a chance she could leap into the ocean if startled.

He said a study of cats in a British port found they were opportunists who took full advantage of humans.

Colin's seemed to have those traits as well, and she was probably "happy as Larry" on board the tanker. The fact that she was eating meant she was suffering little stress, and females needed much less territory than males.

Mr Vette said Tomiwaka's crew would have to restrain Colin's when they docked in Yeosu tomorrow because she might try to run ashore.

"She sounds calm and relaxed, and that's good news," he said. "But the cat will know when it is in port - they're pretty smart like that."

It is possible that Colin's' lifestyle has changed little since she boarded the Tomiwaka.

Port staff said she spent much of her time sitting and eating. Tomiwaka's captain, Chang Seok-Mo, said Colin's had eaten well and relaxed on a sofa.

And what does Mr Butler think of all the fuss over the "so small, so kittenish" friend who bears his name?

"I'm astounded to think there's so much going on for a cat," he says.

"But as far as I'm concerned, she's worth it."