In many areas of Tamsui, R.O.C., there are actually cats roaming around. Aside from the well-cared-for (chubby) cats in the dedicated parking lot next to the police station along the Tamsui riverbank, cats in other locations often have to fend for themselves for food.
Starting from the Red Fort (also famous Fort San Domingo)and extending to the Tamsui riverbank near the Cuiyuan Japanese Charcoal Grilled Meat restaurant, there is a pedestrian and bicycle shared path that is usually a great spot for locals and tourists to admire the sunset. On the outer side of the path, there is an artificial pebble beach of the same length. Legend has it that a wealthy family in the past filled the sea and constructed the road at their own expense to prevent their doorstep from being dug into the road (rural legend).
On the pebble beach, it is common to see three to five cats wandering around lately. They come in various colors and seem to get along harmoniously, perhaps forming their own little family without any specific boundaries.
Since the pebble beach is affected by the ebb and flow of the sea, there are occasional marine creatures trapped in the crevices.
Additionally, in the evenings, there is always a group of anglers standing on the path with their fishing rods. Therefore, during my evening walks, I often see the cats silently moving, foraging, and playing on the beach as the tide recedes.
I have never witnessed them seeking affection from any humans. In the photo, the calico stray cat is holding onto the remains of a fish, only a small piece of flesh left on the bones.
I wonder if the fish was already eaten in the sea before drifting ashore or if it was discarded by a fisherman somewhere. But watching them gnaw on the meager scraps of meat while glancing back at the well-fed bellies of the cats in the Tamsui riverbank parking lot and the little orange cats, it truly evokes a sense of empathy.
This is nature, gentle in bestowing life but also filled with the harshness of facing challenges.
在淡水的許多地區其實都有貓咪出沒，除了淡水河岸旁的警察局專用停車場被眾人照顧的最好（肥）外，其他地點的喵咪往往需要靠自己覓食。
從紅毛城開始，到靠近翠園日式炭火燒肉店之間的淡水河岸，有一段行人與腳踏車共用的步道，平常是淡水人與觀光客觀賞夕陽的好地方。步道外側有著相同長度的人工礫石灘，那是早期一個有錢的家族，為了讓自己家門不要被挖到馬路，才自行花錢填海造路給政府使用（鄉野傳說）。
在礫石灘上，近來常可見三到五隻左右的貓咪出沒，花色各個不同，倒也相處融洽，或許本就是一家人也沒個準。
由於該處礫石灘已經會受到外海漲退潮的影響，偶爾總有海生動物被困在石縫之間。加上每到傍晚，總有一群釣客會在步道上懸竿而立。
因此，每在傍晚散步時，我常會見到貓咪們在退潮之際，偶爾一隻，偶爾成群結隊的到灘上尋找食物，牠們總是靜悄悄的移動、覓食、玩耍，從沒見著需要對哪個人類撒嬌過。
照片中的三花浪浪，嘴裡咬著的”食物”就是只剩一點點的魚身遺骨。
不曉得是原本在海裡就被吃完後才飄上岸來，又或者是被哪裡的釣客丟棄的吧。
但是看著他們只能啃食著那所剩無幾的碎肉，再回頭看看淡水河岸停車場各個肚皮渾圓飽滿的襪子、小橘諸貓們，更是讓人增添許多不捨。
這就不就是大自然嗎，既溫柔的賦予生命，又充滿殘酷的面對挑戰。
Information 攝影資訊
- Location（拍攝地點）：Section 1, Zhongzheng Road, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan Province, Republic of China（中華民國臺灣省新北市淡水區中正路一段）
- Photographic Equipment: Nikon DLSR D90 Camera
- Original filming date: November 15, 2012
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