Abandoned Cats on the Rise as Volunteers Push for Mandatory Protection

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A group of Bahraini women has quietly spent years rescuing abandoned and injured cats, funding every operation from their own pockets. They describe this as a purely humanitarian mission driven by compassion rather than profit, working with the Bahrain Animal Protection Society.

Mission

Since 2008, the volunteers have dedicated their time and personal resources to saving domestic cats left behind by owners and street cats injured in road accidents, neglect or abuse. Many cases involve severe medical conditions requiring urgent veterinary care. In the absence of a clear and comprehensive animal welfare law, they say their work fills a painful gap.

Although their rescue efforts began nearly two decades ago, they launched an Instagram account only a year ago as cases surged beyond their capacity. Social media, they explain, has become essential for raising awareness, encouraging a culture of kindness towards animals and finding sponsors willing to support urgent cases.

Care

The group does not operate a formal shelter. Each rescued cat is first taken to a veterinary clinic for examination, vaccination and neutering to limit uncontrolled breeding. The animals are then placed in private boarding facilities. Some are temporarily housed in the rescuers own homes to reduce mounting accommodation costs.

More than 30 cats are currently spread across several boarding locations, with bills continuing to rise as new cases emerge almost daily. Despite the financial strain, the volunteers persist.

Hope

Their long term hope is the introduction of stronger legislation to protect animal rights, including mandatory microchipping and penalties for abuse, abandonment, dumping and breeding without a licence. They also call for a halt to the import of cats, which they believe negatively affects local populations.

Above all, they seek permanent shelter for the animals in their care, occasionally arranging adoptions abroad when suitable families are found. Today, their appeal is direct. They need support to secure a dedicated shelter or villa that would allow them to continue saving lives and offer vulnerable cats a genuine second chance.