The cats came to chase away the rats and stayed. At least that’s the story of how John F. Kennedy Park in Lima’s upscale neighborhood of Miraflores came to be filled with dozens of cats.
There are all kinds of cats in all colors and sizes. No one bothers them. The cats are friendly and lounge about the park on benches, in trees, in flower beds, and even on the laps of willing humans who delight in petting them.
The cats even have their own little cat hotel, which was erected in the park by cat lovers who want the park’s feline residents to have shelter. The sign outside the cat hotel says, “I’m your friend, Maggycuky. When you’re cold I’ll keep you warm. You are my rainbow.”
The legend is that in the 1980s there was a rat infestation in the park. As the park was, and still is, a tourist attraction surrounded by a lovely colonial church and many outdoor restaurants, something had to be done about the rat problem. Cats were recruited and the rat problem was quickly solved. But the cats remained.
In appreciation, a local animal rights group kept feeding the cats and providing them with shelter and medical care. Today the park is affectionately known as El Parque de Los Gatos, the Cat Park. And there is nary a rat in sight.
