Ops Catnip

THE PROBLEM

Left un-neutered, stray cats will continue to reproduce and over populate creating more homeless kittens. Neutering stabilizes and significantly reduces the number of strays resulting in fewer unwanted and homeless cats. Once neutered, cats are known to gain weight and live healthier lives, allowing them to live out their lives without adding to the homeless cat population.

The volunteers from Yellow House are formerly street people who lived and breathed in the heart of the city. They therefore know their way around, and know many of the area’s cats and the people who feed them. These volunteers are excellently placed to tackle the task directly, and were eager to put their expertise to use. Knowing first hand how it feels to be shelterless, they relate so well to these abandoned and neglected cats, and offered their to help with this compassionate solution to cat overpopulation and ill-health, for the good of the city and its animal inhabitants.

BACKGROUND ON THE FUNDRAISING TO SPAY & NEUTER

From October to December 2017, Independent Pet Adoption Network and ARC Rhinowrites collected pictures of cats to be featured on the tunnel wall of the Masjid Jamek LRT Station, for the Arts On The Move KucingTamu project. The photographic exhibition was a way to advocate for cat welfare issues, and was a collaboration between the above mentioned organisations and THINK City, a community-focused urban regeneration group. THINK City is working to create more liveable and inclusive public spaces for all, which also includes addressing the welfare of urban animals, namely stray cats. People paid a small fee for their cats to be featured on the Masjid Jamek LRT wall, helping to raise close to RM12,000 to spay and neuter cats in and around the city centre.

 Read more

• http://www.malaysia.my/article/off_the_beat/community_service/
• https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/08/03/send-in-your-felines-photos-for-project-to-help-stray-cats-organisation-aims-to-sell-wall-spaces-at/

THE SOLUTION

Every week for the next 5 months, our street friends will help identify, trap, neuter and release stray cats in the surrounding areas of Pusat Gelandangan Kuala Lumpur and Chow Kit. They will also help to collect data and take photographs.

How the funds will be used:

1. Small/medium carriers. 8 units @ RM 65 per carrier = RM520

2. Medium cages with top and side openings to keep the cats for quarantine for 1 day (male cats) and 5 days (female cats) before release 6 units @ RM 200 per cage = RM1200

3. Incentive for 4 street friends (RM 40 per day x  4 street friends x 2 days a week x 20 weeks) RM3200

4. Meal (RM 15 x 4 pax x 20 weeks) = RM1200

5. Mineral water = RM 100

6. Mileage from veterinary clinic to site, 6 times to & fro 
- on catch day 
- after surgery release day (male cats)
- after surgery release day (female cats)

( 6 x RM .70 x 15.7km x 20 weeks) = RM1318.80

7. Food for the cats – fried chicken to lure the cats = RM 200

8. Misc cost = RM500

Total RM8238

THE IMPACT

1. Since the neutering is sponsored by Arts On The Move KucingTamu project, we plan to trap, neuter and release 160 cats in the next 5 months that will bring the cost to roughly RM18 per cat.

2. The result will be committed to reducing the number of homeless cats by providing a safe, humane spay/neuter services for stray roaming cats and improve the quality of life of existing stray cats.

3. Our street friends have an opportunity to contribute back to the society and be worthy citizens again, proving that they too can be socially responsible and hard working when given the right opportunity, guidance and knowledge.

4. The stray cats will also receive basic health examinations and vaccinations.

5. The vets will perform an ear tip to clearly identify the cats as neutered in order to avoid future trappings/transport for surgery that is not needed.