With the situation regarding animal abandonment in Bahrain being critically alarming, a group of compassionate women formed Rescat in October 2019. Their mission: to rescue abandoned cats in Bahrain, provide them with medical care and rehome them to loving families in the Netherlands. They speak to Kristian Harrison about the organisation’s origins, its tireless work to improve the lives of our furry friends, and how animal lovers in the Kingdom can make a positive contribution this festive season.
Rescat was originally born from the Bahrain Stray Cats group on Facebook, driven by an alarming increase in abandoned pets, and has included members such as founder Maha Alsahhaf, Noelle King, Laia Portet Codina, Joylyn Fernandes and Sha Pascual.
“Our initial project was Challenge 68, where we rescued 68 cats from a dire hoarding situation,” Ms. Alsahhaf says. “We realised the urgent need to facilitate rehoming because local adoption options were scarce, and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programmes were virtually non-existent.”
Rescat faces significant challenges, particularly from the prevalence of unregulated breeders and pet shops operating in poor conditions. “Many people still purchase pets instead of adopting, which fuels the cycle of abandonment,” Ms. King points out. “Additionally, a lack of awareness about spaying and neutering leads to unplanned litters, overwhelming families who often abandon the kittens. This issue, combined with exorbitant veterinary costs, makes the work incredibly demanding.”
Despite these obstacles, Rescat successfully rehomes eight cats every month. While the organisation initially worked with UK families, rising travel costs post-COVID-19 led them to shift their efforts to the Netherlands. “The Netherlands has a culture that values animal welfare,” Ms. King notes. “The Dutch treat their cats like family, and we’ve established a smooth process, albeit with logistical challenges like flight rerouting through Dubai.”
Before the cats embark on their new lives abroad, meticulous preparation is essential. Each cat undergoes a thorough medical check, receives a health certificate from a Bahraini vet and meets travel requirements such as export permits and IATA-approved crates. Rescat also relies heavily on foster families in Bahrain, who play a crucial role in caring for the cats until their journey.
“We have over 60 cats in need of foster homes right now,” explains Ms. Alsahhaf, who is also heavily involved with the initiative. Rescat carefully screens prospective fosters, ensuring their homes are safe and suitable. “Fosters provide food, water and a secure environment, while we cover veterinary costs. They are also responsible for transporting the cats to vet or ministry appointments.”
The organisation depends on community support to sustain its operations. Donations can be made directly to veterinary clinics, and Rescat welcomes volunteers for tasks such as transportation, fundraising and social media management. “Every contribution, whether through fostering, donating or volunteering, helps us save more lives,” the team concludes.
For those interested in making a difference, connect with Rescat via email at
[email protected] or on Instagram and Facebook (@rescatofficial).
