Caring for cats in India is challenging. Having cats as companion animals is a relatively new concept in India. As a result, there is a great need to educate the population about how to care for cats. Also, there are few veterinarians in India who know how to treat cats or perform spay and neuter.
Eileen Weintraub, founder of Help Animals India, a nonprofit organization based in Seattle that works to support animal welfare groups in India, says.
“If you travel to India, you’ll see many suffering and stray cats in the large cities with few organizations to help them. Cats are forced to survive very hostile conditions and are victims of extreme weather, including cyclones and monsoons, vehicle accidents and attacks by dogs and monkeys. In rural areas cats lead a more natural life but with almost no help from humans. Further people are superstitious towards cats. They think they are unlucky so it is hard to get community support.”
Cat programs in India that Help Animals India supports
- Rescue, foster and adoption drives to save orphaned kittens, who usually are thrown in the trash, and abandoned cats
- Education and awareness campaigns about animal welfare
- Sponsorship of spay/neuter and specialized feline medical treatment programs
“For cats that cannot be adopted, Help Animals India also sponsors two cat shelters that house over 300 cats,” Weintraub says.
Cat welfare groups in India need supplies
Help Animals India raises funds to support the emerging animal welfare organizations in India and sends supplies to help rescue and rehabilitate street cats. Items that organizations in India need for cats that are not available there are:
- Humane traps for TNR
- Catching nets for TNR
- Lightweight or gently used collars and halters
- Cat treats
- KMR (in powder form only)
- Kitten nursing bottles
- Advantage or other powerful flea control
- Lightweight play tunnels (great for shelter cats)
If you would like to help in the purchase of these items, you can send a tax deductible donation to:
Help Animals India
19215 32nd Avenue N.E.
Seattle, WA 98155
You can find out more about the organization and also donate online at: www.helpanimalsindia.org.
If you have a news tip or story idea for the Cats Examiner column, email Barbara@kohnpr.com.
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