The Merchant Cats

Between Almas and her three sons and five Persians there is abundant love floating around the household. We can throw in husband Ashraf - a giant in the timber industry - and a large battery of staff, too; all who contribute in making the Merchants' home in Bombay one of peace, love, compassion, humanity and utmost humility

- Farzana

I am slowly learning that cat people are just as passionate, possessive and zealous about their wards as are dog lovers. If at all the difference that I do notice is only in the personality of the two types of different pet parents. The doggie ones are more outgoing, casual and robust, generally speaking, and the feline ones more soft and reticent, even shy, like their snooty cats. At least the ones I have been meeting – the Persian ones – are like that. They all look so regal and aloof… I get the feeling I am being looked down upon!

Well, at the home of Almas and Ashraf Merchant – giants in the timber industry – the feeling was similar. They have five cats, all Persians, in fact, all of one family. As I stepped into their hushed, air-conditioned living room, sitting on a gold brocaded chair was one pretty one. She turned to give me a short, condescending glance and went right back to doing what she was, looking disdainfully into the distance, like a diva.

“Oh, hello,” said Hamza, walking into the room. “That’s Kutty, she is the mother hen, who gave birth to all the others.”