Cat sanctuary appealing for aid

Felines wandering around the Cat Beach Sanctuary.

THE Cat Beach Sanctuary in Teluk Bahang, Penang, which houses about 300 cats, is in dire need of donations to stay afloat.

Founder Teviot Fairservis, 66, said the shelter for stray cats, which she started in 2014, needed funds to cover the cats’ medical bills and workers’ salaries.

“On top of that, I have to pay for cat food,” she said in a phone interview.

“As many as 90% of the cats come in with physical defects and need to be treated by a veterinarian.

“In order for the cats to be adopted, they have to be in good health.

“I have just received 15 kittens with eye infections and we tried to get hold of them to treat the infections but they were running everywhere.

“Some of the cats at Cat Beach are infected with different diseases so I try my best to take them to veterinarians regularly.

“The cost of the vaccine for cats has risen from RM25 to RM35 and now RM45 in clinics.

“That’s a costly price for 300 cats.”

Veterinary surgeon Dr Cherilyn Mok Jia Ying said kittens would commonly get feline panleukopenia.

“This is a highly contagious virus.

“Kittens of two months and below have a higher chance of getting infected than adult cats as they have a weaker immunity system and maternal antibodies.

“There are vaccines available that offer good protection,” she said.

Cat food, cleaning supplies and pre-loved items for resale to benefit the cats as well as funds can be dropped off at the new sanctuary HQ in Batu Ferringhi.

The hours are from 11am to 6pm daily (except Sundays, subject to change).

For more details, call the sanctuary at 017-575 3419 or visit http://www.patreon.com/CatBeach to adopt a cat virtually.