Koumala Hotel: Precious the cat has lived in a pub for 14 years and become its beloved mascot… but the 700 residents in the outback town are furious after Mackay Council made a very cruel decision
A cat fight is brewing in a small town after the local council orders the local pub owners to rehome the resident cat.
Precious, an 18-year-old cat, has lived at the Koumala Hotel, near Mackay in northern Queensland, for much of her life. She is often seen in the pub’s pool room.
But the beloved kitty, who has been cared for by two groups of innkeepers, will no longer be allowed to stay after Mackay Regional Council spotted Precious in a “food processing area” at the pub 12 months ago – and for the second time this week.
The council has asked innkeepers Rowena and Ray Colgrave to find another home for Precious or to keep her away from food processing areas.
The Queensland Government adheres to the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code, which does not permit animals to be present in food preparation areas.
“The Food Standards Code states that a food establishment must not allow live animals (other than seafood or other fish or shellfish) into areas where food is processed or served,” the website states.
The Colgraves have owned Precious since they took over the pub eight years ago.
Mrs Colgrave has asked for an extension so that all parties can reach a resolution that will allow Precious to remain in the pub.
Public owner Rowena Colgrave with Precious the cat in her office at the pub on Wednesday. The cat has called the pub home for the past 14 years
Local councillors have told the innkeepers of the Koumala Hotel (pictured) that Precious may need to be rehomed if they cannot keep her away from food processing areas.
“Our aim is mainly to keep her because of her age,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
It’s easy to say that you should give a cat a new home, but when they are 18 years old, it’s different.
‘(Being rehomed) will shorten her life – I don’t care what people say.
“She’s weak and old, so I just want to leave her here.”
The Koumala Hotel is a traditional Queenslander hotel with two floors and rooms that flow into each other, making it difficult to keep Precious away from food processing areas.
Mrs Colgrave fears her pet will have to be locked up when she is in the pub, or put in a cage outside in the summer heat.
The innkeeper added that customers like Precious.
She argued that cats are necessary in cafes to keep unwanted guests at bay.
“It’s the season of mice and rats, and they come from the sugar cane fields,” she said.
The innkeeper said that the laws are hypocritical.
“It’s actually quite strange because Queensland has now aligned its laws with New South Wales, which now allows dogs to be in a food area,” she said.
‘So I can have twenty dogs in my beer garden with my customers, but not a single rat-catching cat.’
Ms Colgrave said she cried when she posted her original message about finding Precious a new home.
Now that they have received so much support from the public, they are determined to keep their beloved cat.
“Council members have called me to say they want to leave her alone, and people from all over the world have sent me messages of support,” she said.
Precious, who is about 18 years old (pictured), has lived at the Koumala Hotel in Queensland for 14 years. But the local council is in talks with the innkeepers to ensure she stays away from food processing areas
The current innkeepers fear they will have to lock Precious in a room or put her in a cage outside because of the heat (pictured is the Koumala Hotel, a classic two-storey Queenslander hotel and home to Precious the cat)
Angry residents of the town of about 700 have started a petition to keep Precious.
“Precious is not just a cat; she is an enduring symbol of the spirit and unity of our community,” the petition reads.
“Join us in demanding that Precious be allowed to spend her final years in the home she has known and loved for most of her life.”
Residents also criticized the council’s decision via social media.
“How ridiculous to do this to such an old cat! Why not let her live out her last years and then enforce the rule,” one person wrote.
Another added: ‘Mackay Regional Council – Why don’t you focus on the real issues and fix the road?’
But Mackay councillor, former Australian rugby league player Marty Bella, defended the council’s decision, adding that Precious would not be seized but that food safety regulations must be adhered to. The courier post reported.
It is against Australian food safety laws to have live animals near places where food is processed and where food is served (below is a stock photo of a chef serving takeaway food).
Mackay Regional Council said it will continue to work towards a “positive resolution” to ensure Precious is not located in food processing areas.
Mrs Colgrave said people knew Precious had been there for 14 years and she thought it was ridiculous that the council was only now willing to do something.
“The animal shelter has 200 cats looking for a new home in Mackay and they want to remove the cat that already has one,” she said.
But Mr Bella said the same rules apply to all food businesses.
“The law is the law. Justice must be blind, you cannot apply the rules to some and not to others, that is the essence of corruption, isn’t it?” he said.
Mr Bella added that people should research toxoplasmosis and other diseases that cats can carry.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mackay Regional Council for comment.