SUVARNABHUMI – A 9-month-old male ginger cat named “Nuu Rang” became an overnight sensation when a video clip was shared on social media last week, showing him enjoying sitting on the airport’s escalator LED directional sign pillar, where tourists came to take pictures with him.
However, his owner was warned later by airport officials not to bring him unnecessarily after some netizens raised a dramatic issue about how the airport could allow pets to wander around. They expressed concerns that the cat may cause problems to those allergic to cats, reflect negatively on the airport, and possibly pose a danger to the cat itself or spread disease.
Suvarnabhumi Airport authorities revealed on Friday that there are strictly no rules preventing a pet from being at the airport. In light of this incident, they may consider introducing new legislation or regulations. At the very least, they might mandate that pet owners keep their cats or dogs on a leash while in public areas.
Ms. Nokporn Charoenjitchinda, a 31-year-old Pathum Thani resident and the owner of Nuu Rang, has not given more interviews to the media about the AOT authorities’ order. She said earlier that since the social media trend began, she has had a big headache because people keep contacting her.
She explained that she is a person who doesn’t like anyone to bother her much. But when she took Nuu Rang out and someone came to greet him, ask for photos, talk, or play, that was fine. However, when returning to her room, she needs privacy.
In a previous interview, Ms. Nokporn said that Nuu Rang is very attached to her and obeys only her after she raised him since he was a baby.
Nuu Rang’s mother got lost and came to her house, giving birth to 4 kittens. Not long after, the mother was bitten to death by a snake. The kittens were not yet weaned, so they had to be divided among acquaintances to take care of them. She took Nuu Rang to raise and recently had him neutered.
When she went to help her boyfriend work at Suvarnabhumi Airport, she took her beloved cat with her because Nuu Rang can’t stay alone in the room. He would destroy things in the room, so she had to take him with her, putting him in a motorcycle basket.
Her boyfriend works taking care of tourists, mostly Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. She helps carry packs of water bottles onto the bus for tourists, which is not a full-time job, so she has time to look after Nuu Rang.
While at the airport, this ginger cat would stay with her all the time, including when he sat on the airport’s escalator LED directional sign pillar at the escalator. She would always be there. People who met Nuu Rang would be surprised why there was a cat at the airport. As for Nuu Rang, he would always look at her.
When she went to carry water packs, Nuu Rang would sit and wait there, not going with others. And he often slept on the trolley no matter how loud the noise was or what happened, he wouldn’t wake up. Some days if she doesn’t go to work at the airport, Nuu Rang won’t go either.
Normally she goes to work around 1 a.m. and comes back around 3 or 4 a.m., returning with her. Her boyfriend works until 5 a.m., sometimes until 7 a.m.
Nuu Rang really likes to go outside, so he will go sit and meow at the door. She will open the door and let him out to run and play. The reason she puts a bell on Nuu Rang is so she can listen to the sound to know where he is. And there’s a flashing light too to guard against snakes.
Nuu Rang now has a Facebook page for fans to follow, called “Nuu Rang, Suvarnabhumi’s Ginger Cat”, with pictures from when he was a baby and cute clips for cat lovers to follow, even though they won’t see him at Suvarnabhumi.
____
Related articles:
