Amid the growing instances of cat abuse reported each year, there are still compassionate individuals who selflessly dedicate their resources to caring for these animals, ensuring they receive proper treatment and a comfortable life.
Four years ago, driven by the increasing number of abandoned cats during the Movement Control Order (MCO), Nur Hanariawati Vohd Nall and her husband, Banarim Abu Bakar, 47, established Rumah Katsumi as a sanctuary for these felines. Since then, they have opened their 2,000-square-foot rented home to over 50 cats, including 27 with disabilities.
The couple has even transformed their bedroom into a makeshift “hospital” to provide care and comfort to these disabled cats, many of whom are paralyzed due to vehicle accidents, falls from buildings, or abuse by irresponsible individuals.
“I used to care for healthy cats, but my journey with disabled cats began in 2021 when I came across numerous social media posts seeking adopters for injured cats. It started with one, and now I’ve rescued 27, not counting those that have passed,” she shared.
The 45-year-old housewife explained that the cats were rescued from various states, including Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan, using specialized “pet taxi” services for transportation. Despite sacrificing her time and finances for the well-being of these animals, the mother of three feels deeply grateful for the opportunity to care for them.
“I haven’t visited my hometown or taken a vacation in a long time because I need to look after the cats. I clean their living space daily and change the diapers of the paralyzed ones about four to five times a day,” she shared. “I also assist these paralyzed cats with urination and defecation, which takes about two hours per session, as they cannot do it on their own.”
Nur Hanariawati also shaves the fur on the tails of disabled cats to make cleaning easier, especially to prevent unpleasant odors if waste gets on that area. She frequently shares short videos of her special-needs cats on her TikTok page, “Cerita Kucing Katsumi.” She explained that stray cats rescued in critical condition—often after being hit by vehicles—usually require at least a month of treatment before recovering.
With an estimated weekly cost of up to RM1,200 to care for these disabled cats, including expenses for specialized food and diapers, the couple’s expenses do not include additional veterinary treatment costs, which can arise when necessary.
“We personally cover the costs of treatment and care. However, if expenses exceed RM2,000, we seek public donations. Even before we began caring for disabled cats, my husband had set up a social media account to promote our grooming and vet care services,” said Nur Hanariawati. “This has helped us raise funds for the medical expenses of these special-needs cats. Alhamdulillah, Malaysians are generally very generous.”
Currently, the couple cares for disabled cats ranging in age from three months to four years. One of the challenges they face is the risk of injuries during interactions among the cats, which sometimes require immediate and costly veterinary treatment.
“The cats here are friendly and don’t fight. However, while grooming each other, they sometimes bite each other’s tails. Since the injured cat is paralyzed, it doesn’t feel pain, and we only notice the damage when the tail becomes severely affected. At that point, we have to take the cat to the clinic for amputation, which costs RM500,” she explained.
Without hiring any assistants, the couple ensures that the disabled cats receive annual veterinary check-ups at home, including blood tests to detect any potential health issues. Paralysed cats are more prone to kidney disease as their condition affects bladder function, making them highly susceptible to infections.
“Since we have to manually assist them in eliminating waste, any residual waste can lead to infections. That’s why regular check-ups are essential,” she added.
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