Feral cats are extremely common in the UAE. There are organisations like Feline Friends who do catch and release sterilization for feral cats. Feline Friends also facilitates fostering and adoptions of non-feral cats. Feline Friends looks for volunteers who can give at least 1 hour/week for a 1 year commitment. "Cat cuddlers" are on the list of volunteers as are those willing to foster cats, trap feral cats, and/or fundraising activities. Check out their site for details on how to help.
This little furball wandered into a friend's garden in Dubai last year. She was clearly not the typical feral cat-perhaps a pet that was left behind and cared for by other residents. She settled in nicely, but there was a lesson learnt here. My friend adopted her but failed to get her fixed right away. Sure enough, the tomcats made their way over the garden wall (a cat in need will do just about anything) and kittens came not long after.
14 comments:
She's such a cutie! No wonder tomcats found her beautiful!
Happy birthday to you!!!
That's a great idea. Cats are so vilified down here (mind you, they're also fairly rampant), so it's good to see that some countries are using common sense to address the issue: sterilization of cats = less cats to become feral.
And she's so cute, too.
I am wondering if the feral cats are abandoned pets, or now deep into a lineage of ferals?
@Nathalie: Thank you! She is a lovely little thing. She made sure the tomcats knew where she was, too (much to everyone's dismay).
@...: When I lived in Egypt cats were regarded more highly. I suppose it's partially a throwback to Pharonic times but also attributed to the belief that the Prophet Mohamed admired cats. They are, however, viewed as pests by many. I think if the UAE eliminated the feral cat community tomorrow they would be overrun by other pest problems.
@Kris: Good question! You know how quickly cats breed...there are certainly plenty of former pets who are left behind. They go on to give birth to countless litters of feral cats. Not sure, though, how deep it runs.
She's lovely. I really wish people would get their cats desexed. Cat cuddler is a lovely idea - I miss my old cat.
She is sweet little cat, Ann. I agree with you about fixing the cats: we absolutely do not need one more litter of unwanted kittens.
I was thinking of volunteering to become a "cat cuddler." If you've ever visited a shelter there isn't anything sadder than all those cats desperate for attention.
Cat cuddler would be such a nice thing to do. I was at our local shelter with an injured duck and they said they had over 400 cats in foster care. 400 cats! There is a huge feral cat problem here too.
I hope your friend kept those kittens and did not get rid of them like some people do....
We got our cats sterilized immediately...two cats are more than enough........
Cat Cuddlers....thats interesting and I would love to try it out though the only problem is I wouldn't get a warm welcome from my older cat due to the smell I'll bring of the other cats...she's very territorial.. :|
That'a marvellous image and what a great organisation. Cat cuddlers now that is a cute name.
Lovely lovely kitty!
@ Michelle: It's a shame about the feral cat population. I know in Seattle that there are no-kill shelters that run feral colonies. They are all fixed and healthy. They try to find farms in the area to take them as barn cats. Feral cats don't last very long at all in normal shelters.
@Stained: They found homes for all but one. I think cat cuddling might be a good stress reducer, but I'm sure my cat will be a bit irked by it, too!
@babooshka: This part of the world is generally lacking when it comes to animal welfare, but it is improving. What's hardest to change are people's attitudes.
@vero: Thanks!
She looks sweet. Nice to see she found a good home.
love the cat ... i want :(
@VB: She is a doll! She clearly saw a sucker in my friend.
@Mory: She's very cute!
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