11/09/2023
A quick guide to helping street cats in the Abu Dhabi city.
I feed a large group of cats around my house and workplace. What else can I do to help them?
Unfortunately, there just aren’t enough homes for all the cats on the streets. So sometimes, the best thing to do is just give it water and food every other day or so. They shouldn't be fed every day. Also, if you can afford to do so, spay or neuter the animal first and then return it to the original location also known as TNR (trap, neuter and return). TNR will help greatly to decrease the population of cats on the streets, while also ensuring a more peaceful colony.
Can I leave milk out for a stray kitten or cat?
No, it’s better to leave just water. Milk has no nutritional value for the animals and can actually cause more issues especially if given to a kitten. Cats tend to have an intolerance to the enzymes in milk, which can cause diarrhoea or an upset stomach.
What should I do if I come across newborn kittens?
While it’s tempting to want to take them home, the best thing to do is simply to watch and wait to assess the situation. According to the NYC Feral Cat Initiative: “During high kitten [season], it’s not unusual to discover unattended kittens or a single kitten seemingly abandoned by the mother. Before jumping to the rescue, consider these recommendations. It’s possible the mother is off searching for food or is in the process of moving them to a different location. Try to determine if the mother is coming back for them, or if they are truly orphaned.
To do this, stand far away from the kittens — 35 feet or more. If you stand too close, the mom will not approach her kittens. You might need to go away completely before the mother cat will return to attend to the kittens. It might be several hours before the mother cat returns — until she no longer senses the presence of humans hovering near her litter.
The mother cat is their best chance for survival, so wait and watch as long as you can. The best food for the kittens is their mother’s milk. Remove the kittens only if they are in immediate, grave danger.”
What should I do if there’s no mother cat around?
If this is the case, a decision will need to be made about what to do. But this is something that needs to be completed all the way through and can be daunting, because very young kittens will need to feed every two hours, around the clock, to ensure their survival.
The NYC Feral Cat Initiative adds: “If you discover that mom has been hit by a car, or if for any reason it appears that she is not coming back, then you should remove the kittens. This is crucial to the kittens’ survival. But you must be prepared to see this project through to weaning if you decide to intervene. If you take the kittens in, it is unlikely that you will find an organisation with available staff or volunteers to take on bottle-feeding on short notice. Some organisations do have experienced bottle-feeders, but prior logistical planning is necessary. Animal shelters and veterinarians generally do not take in newborn kittens, since they do not have the staff to feed and stimulate them for elimination round-the-clock.”
Can I catch anything from a stray cat?
For the most part, no. Assuming you are a hygienic person, there’s no need to worry about catching any diseases from a stray cat. The only really transferable thing is ringworm and that is treatable through a cream or a pill. Toxoplasmosis is also often brought up, but rarely comes from a cat. According to the Centre for Disease Control, people are more likely to catch it from under-cooked, contaminated meat than a stray cat.
The tip of a cat’s ear is cut. What does this mean?
It’s a sign that a street cat has already been spayed or neutered. Usually, it is a visual way of ensuring they get don’t trapped and resubmitted for sterilisation.
I’ve come across a stray cat, but I can’t take it home. What should I do?
If the cat is in a safe area and seems happy, the best thing to do is leave it some water but check again for an ear tip to see if it’s been neutered or spayed already. If not, TNR if you can. Most short-haired cats can survive staying outdoors in Abu Dhabi
A quick guide to helping street cats in the ABU DHABI
