Aisha Rashid, a 39-year-old Pakistani expatriate in the UAE, is struggling to save 65 rescued cats she has been sheltering in a Dubai apartment.
With her property management company demanding the removal of the animals, she now faces eviction by October 2.
Rashid’s journey began during the Covid-19 lockdown when she stepped in to feed stray cats after their caretaker left the country.
When the original caregiver declined to continue after returning months later, Rashid and her mother felt compelled to keep looking after the cats.
What started as a temporary act of kindness soon evolved into a large-scale rescue operation that has overtaken her personal life and finances.
Earning Dh 7,000 a month working in the auto loan disbursal department of a back-office services company, Rashid says most of her income is consumed by the cats’ needs.
Over the past six years, she has funded the neutering of around 150 cats, spending Dh4,000–Dh5,000 monthly on veterinary care while also paying rent.
As her reputation for helping animals grew, more abandoned cats were left near her home, many suffering from blindness and other serious health conditions.
Several cats under her care require urgent medical attention. Some have lost eyes, others are partially blind, and recent hit-and-run accidents left two cats with bone fractures.
Veterinary bills have reached as high as Dh 5,000 per case, though one clinic has allowed her to pay in instalments due to her financial strain.
Rashid’s family is also facing hardships. Her mother is battling blood cancer after surviving breast cancer, while her father has been retired for seven years.
Her brother helps with household rent, while she pays Dh 31,000 annually for the apartment housing the cats.
To avoid disturbing neighbours, the family has rented a second apartment in a nearby building for themselves while continuing to feed strays outside.
The property management company has fined Rashid Dh8,000 for keeping cats in the apartment.
According to her, the fine will only be lifted if she removes the animals; otherwise, she must pay and vacate, despite already covering rent until December. With limited space, the cats often fight, and behavioural problems have emerged, adding to her difficulties.
With only days left before the deadline, Rashid is appealing for help from authorities, animal lovers, or shelters.
She hopes to relocate the cats to a villa or farmhouse where they can live safely.
“No one wants to adopt stray cats; they all want purebred ones,” she said. “But we are humans, and we have to take care of them. Even though I’m struggling, when I see abandoned cats, I cry for them.”
Via: Gulf News