ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Former US President Donald Trump’s latest debate performance has sparked global outrage, but nowhere more so than Tasmania, where locals are defending a long and proud history of cat consumption.
During the debate, Trump claimed immigrants were “eating the dogs and cats” of American citizens, leaving fact-checkers scrambling and Tasmanians offended by the dismissal of their centuries-old culinary tradition.
For generations, Tasmanians have embraced a unique food culture that traces back to the earliest colonial days, when survival in the harsh wilderness often meant making the most of what was available — including cats. What began as a necessity has since evolved into a tradition that locals still celebrate, albeit quietly, with pride.
“We’ve been eating cats down here since the first convicts were dumped on the island,” said Hobart-native Mick Doolan, who now works in The Advocate’s sales team.
“Back in the day, it was either that or starve, and we’ve turned it into a bit of a gourmet thing. It’s very hard to get good cat on the mainland. You almost have to get it yourself or find a butcher that doesn’t mind processing cats you provide. I just think it’s very rude of Trump to lump us in with ‘criminals’ as he puts it.”
The presidential hopeful’s comments hit a nerve in the Apple Isle, with many Tasmanians taking umbrage at being lumped in with Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric. Rather than being ashamed, many locals say their cat-based diet is a source of cultural pride, with secret recipes passed down through generations.
“It’s a very dangerous assertion. We’re not out here raiding people’s backyards for pets. It’s feral cats, wild ones, from the bush,” Doolan clarified.
“Well, most of the time. It is in the south, anyway. I’ve heard they eat domesticated cats, cats with microchips and shit, up in Launceston. They’re proper feral up there. The people, that is. Much different to us down in Sandy Bay.”
As mainlanders continue to laugh Trump’s bizarre comments, Tasmanians are standing firm, ready to educate the world about their distinct, if misunderstood, culinary heritage.
More to come.
