At AUC, you are never alone, not when the campus cats are always watching.
They lounge by the library steps, storm into classes like they’re on their 6th absence, and stare you down the second you unwrap a sandwich.
The cats of AUC aren’t just campus pets. They’re the real owners, and they know it. While some students have made peace with these felines, others are officially over it.
If you’re part of the latter that has had one too many encounters with one of these cats, here’s your unofficial, slightly desperate, survival guide.
Don’t Eat Outside Unless You’re Ready to Share… or Fight
The moment you step outdoors with food, you’re basically sending a mass invitation to every cat within a two-mile radius.
“I literally watched one cat snatch a slice of pizza right out of a guy’s hand,” said Sarah Abdelrahman, a senior majoring in political science. “He didn’t even fight back. He just accepted it.”
Today it’s a slice of pizza, tomorrow it’s a burger, and next thing you know, they’re munching up on your papers.
The campus cats have perfected the art of begging. They’ll even make you feel bad enough to just give them your food. If that doesn’t work out, yeah…they’ll just steal it.
“They wait outside the bakery door sometimes,” said Ahmed, who works at TBS. “As soon as a student walks out with a sandwich, the cats follow them like bodyguards, except they’re guarding your sandwich – from you.”
Security guards have pretty much surrendered too.
“A lot of students complain,” shrugged Ahmed Abdelrahman, a security officer near the plaza, “but we can’t chase cats all day.”
“They’re faster than us, and honestly, if we scare them too much, students get mad at us. It’s a lose-lose,” he added.
Lesson One: Unless you’re prepared to share your meal (or sacrifice it), find shelter.
Don’t Make Eye Contact – They Will Take It As An Invitation
There’s something unsettling about the way the cats lock eyes with you, like they know you’re weak.
“I thought it was cute, you know? Made eye contact, smiled a little… and then it chased me down until I reached the door of my class,” said Youssef Maged, a business junior. “It was like I accidentally adopted it just by looking at it.”
Apparently, direct eye contact is seen by cats as a challenge or an invitation, and at AUC, they’re ready to accept either.
“A cat walked straight into my lecture, locked eyes with me, and refused to leave. It sat through half the class, absolutely unbothered. Honestly, it had better attendance than some students,” said Marwa Azzab, Professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications recalling her run in with one of the owners.
Lesson Two: Look away. Look busy. Look like you have nothing to offer.
Don’t Sit Alone Near the Library – That’s Their Turf
Some places on campus are just their spaces now, and the cubes near the library are basically the cats’ VIP lounge.
“You sit alone there, and you’re asking for company you didn’t agree to,” said Nourhan Fahmy, an economics sophomore. “I once had three cats surround me while I was trying to finish my burger from Butchers.”
Security staff confirmed that the cats have certain preferred “zones.”
“Near the library, at the cafeteria, and behind TBS. Those are hot zones,” said security guard Hassan.
Even the Relish workers are aware of this.
Hussein Taha said, “We try to shoo them, but they’re smart. They know where the food is. And they know where the students usually sit.”
Lesson Three: If you must sit near the library, find a big group. Safety in numbers.
Don’t Forget To have a Decoy Snack (or Two). Let the Sacrifice Be Made
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Some students swear by the “decoy snack” method, offering up something to distract the cats while you eat what you actually want in peace.
“A friend of mine brings an extra packet of Chipsy just for the cats,” said Malek Abazaid, a mechanical engineering senior. “He throws it far away, and while they fight over it, he finishes his burger.”
It’s strategic. It’s sneaky. It’s survival.
TBS workers even joked that the cats have developed preferences.
“Some like croissants more than sandwiches,” Ahmed said. “Some are picky now. It’s crazy.”
Lesson Four: If you’re feeling generous (or just terrified), keep a spare snack on you at all times. Consider it an investment. Seriously.
A Final Word: Coexistence or CATastrophe?
While this guide is definitely a bit dramatic (okay, very dramatic), it’s clear the cats have become a unique, if slightly chaotic, part of AUC life. At the end of the day, survival is an art – and that’s exactly where this guide comes in. Whether you love them or fear them, one thing is certain: they’re here to stay.
As Professor Azzab put it best, “At this point, we should just hand them diplomas.”
And honestly? They’ve earned it.
