KANGAR: What began as a personal effort to care for around 150 cats at home has now evolved into a thriving shelter for over 2,000 stray cats, known as 'Bustana Kucing'.
Mohd Taufik Md Zain and his wife Noor Azlina Abu Bakar, both 59, took the initiative to establish the shelter in 2015 by renting a space within the Perlis Snake and Reptile Farm here, for its operations.
"We receive cats from all over the country, including strays or those that we rescue ourselves, as well as cats in need of medical treatment or those surrendered by their owners for various reasons,” Mohd Taufik told Bernama recently.
"Sometimes, people have no choice but to leave their cats with us due to certain circumstances. We are okay with it and accept them. It’s usually during school holidays that people bring their cats here,” he added.
Taufik, who also manages the shelter, explained that a fee of RM50 is charged for regular cats and RM100 for pregnant cats, which helps fund the shelter’s operations and care for the animals.
The shelter is equipped with comprehensive facilities to ensure the well-being of the cats and operates legally after obtaining a license from the Veterinary Services Department in 2023.
"Bustana Kucing now has 26 full-time employees who are responsible for managing the cats, including cleaning the cages from 9am to noon.
"The shelter operates daily, except on the two major festive days, with staff ensuring the cats' welfare even during holidays,” he added.
In addition to the couple using their own funds to cover costs, which include RM13,000 a month for food and RM9,000 for medical expenses, the shelter also receives donations from the public in the form of money and cat food.
Visitors to the reptile park can also visit the cat shelter using the same ticket purchased for entry into the park.- Bernama
