A shelter under the charitable organisation called Little Steps, Happy Cat Home was established in October last year and offers shelter to 60 feline residents today.
Suryani Muhamad told FMT recently she set up the shelter because her heart went out to the many strays in her area who were sick, hungry, injured and in need of a warm space to take shelter in.
“We have cats at home too. We wanted to adopt the stray cats, but we had no place to keep them,” she said.
Meanwhile shelter manager Noorismail Umar said: “We are all cat lovers, and that’s why this was a no-brainer for us.”
Together Suryani and Noorismail wish to create awareness about the plight of strays and to that end, regularly hold open houses and educational initiatives.
They also leverage social media to showcase the transformation that the cats at their shelter undergo.
“We post pictures of some of the cats’ remarkable journeys, and it’s all only possible through the donations of other cat lovers,” Noorismail said.
One such inspiring story is that of Buntat, a frail cat with severe facial injuries, who rescuers brought to the shelter.
“Half of Buntat’s face was bloody, probably due to a fight with another cat,” Noorismail recalled. But after 10 rounds of laser treatment, Buntat made a full recovery.
“Now, he has been transformed into a super fat, healthy cat!” said Aiman Misruddin, a former veterinary clinic assistant who devotes his time and expertise to the shelter.
Suryani also shared happy tales of stray cats that seem to find their way to the shelter’s doorstep as if guided by fate.
“At one point, during a heavy rainy season, a stray cat showed up at our shelter. We named her Windy because of the weather. Unfortunately, she had the fatal and highly contagious parvovirus, and despite our efforts, she passed away during surgery,” Suryani said, deep sadness apparent in her voice.
“What’s interesting is that shortly after Windy’s passing, another cat appeared at our shelter who looked identical to her. We call her Windy 2.0 now,” said Suryani with a chuckle.
Because the shelter is small, the cats here get individualised care and attention. “It’s important for us to focus on each cat’s well-being,” shared Noorismail.
From comprehensive medical examinations to stimulating environments filled with designated play areas, climbing structures, and cosy resting spots, the shelter is designed to provide the purr-fect experience for their feline residents.
In fact, the shelter takes pampering to a whole new level. Instead of tap water, their residents enjoy filtered water fit for feline connoisseurs!
Even so, the team has faced their share of setbacks. The cost of operating the shelter, for one, has been monumental. Secondly, dealing with the many feline diseases they encounter has been trying on the team, Noorismail admitted.
Stray cats often come here with unknown health issues, making it crucial to isolate those suspected of contagious diseases or recovering from injuries, from the healthy ones.
There was also this one incident that left the caretakers shaken and sad. It was from an unexpected visitor – a python!
“The python came in at night, and the next day we found out that it had eaten two of our cats. We were just so heartbroken,” Suryani said.
However, despite the challenges and heartbreak, the team members at Happy Cat Home are doing their all to give stray cats a second chance at life.
As the sun sets over Klang, the gentle purrs and contented snores of the cats echo through the shelter, providing a symphony of hope and gratitude that resonates far beyond its walls.
Happy Cat Home’s ‘Malaysia Cat Adoption Fiesta 2023’
Venue: Level 3, Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya
Date: June 3-4
Time: 11.00am to 6.00pm
Happy Cat Home’s Open Day
Venue: Taman Sri Andalas, Klang
Date: June 24
Follow Happy Cat Home on Instagram or send a WhatsApp message to +60 138502337 for donations of cash or cat food.
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