Helping the Stray Cats of Dubai

The amount of cats on the streets of Dubai (and other emirates) is increasing by the day. This is for a number of reasons, namely:
1. Unwanted pets being dumped
2. Lack of TNR (Trap, Neuter & Release)
3. Oversupply of purebred cats

There are so many organisations and individuals doing their bit for the ever-growing population of cats in the UAE, but there are never enough funds available. Most veterinary clinics do offer discounted rates for strays, but most rescuers end up with incredibly high vet bills which they end up paying for out of their pocket.

When you donate here you are supporting:
- TNR (trapping stray cats, neutering them, then returning them to their colony, in order to control population growth)
- Vet bills for injured stray cats (whether it's due to intentional abuse, infections, being run over, fighting with other cats, and so on, a number of cats are admitted to veterinary clinics on a daily basis) - if admitted after 9PM the fees are more than double the cost
- Rehoming stray cats (vaccinations, microchipping, FIV tests)
- Relocation fees for stray cats being rehomed abroad (relocating one cat costs anywhere from AED2,500-4,000 - sometimes cats are sent directly to their adopters, who obviously cover most of the costs, but in some cases they're sent to shelters with high adoption rates - in which case, funds need to be raised)
- Food (some rescuers go out of their way to feed stray cats everyday, and cat food doesn't come cheap)

I contribute 15% of my monthly salary to other rescuers' outstanding vet bills, as well as my own. If you can donate any amount it will help me and other rescuers to continue doing the work that we do. As previously mentioned, vets do give discounts for rescues, but the bills are still incredibly high. To give you a rough idea, one of my rescues, Renu (who's still looking for a forever home) had to have 3 teeth removed and be hospitalised and medicated for a week. His total bill was AED 2,500.

If you are unable to contribute financially then the 1st thing you can do is Adopt NOT Shop. By supporting breeders you are supporting the ill-treatment of animals. Breeders do not care about the well-being of the animals they exploit on a daily basis. Breeders do not do background checks on their 'customers'. The idea that an animal can simply be bought on a whim is disgusting (I'm looking at you, 'Instagram breeders'). There are some people that view pets as accessories or property, and this is where breeders continue to profit, with no consideration of whether the animal is going to a FOREVER home. People may have their preference when it comes to what breed of cat or dog they may want, and in these cases, please consider adopting. SO many unwanted PUREBRED pets are dumped everyday because they've ended up in the hands of irresponsible owners; so if you desperately want a specific breed, then all you need to do is check with your local shelters or rescuers.

Another way in which you can help is by fostering. For those that don't know, fostering means you're providing an animal with a temporary home until they're adopted by their forever family. Most cats don't need much, if you have a big home you can 'give' a room to a cat, all they need is food, water, a litter tray, something to scratch, and some TLC.

If you already have pets then you can also support by buying your pet food, beds, toys, etc. from pet shops that don't sell animals. You can buy homemade toys and beds from rescuers, buy food from pet shops that support and fund rescues, or if you're unable to find either, then most supermarkets have a pet section.