Kota Baru couple celebrate Raya by feeding stray cats a special feast of boiled chicken (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Stray cat feeder and rescuer Nor Izyan Syahida Rosli is not one to neglect her cats, even on Hari Raya.
After celebrating with family, she and husband Muhammad Azizul Hakim were back on the streets to feed their fur babies.
“The street cats are part of our family,” said Izyan, 28. “So we chose to celebrate Hari Raya by feeding them something special.”
“It’s just the two of us right now so these street cats are our children. They soothe the soul.”
The Kota Baru-based couple who recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary have been feeding cats on a daily basis since they started dating, mStar reported.
They focus on the stray communities at Cahaya Bulan Beach and Kedai Buloh Market.
This Hari Raya, they bought, boiled and shredded RM420 worth of chicken to feed to their fur babies as a special feast.
“We usually give them wet food and kibble but for Raya, we wanted to give them a treat,” said Izyan.
“So, while celebrating with our family and doing the rounds, we also made sure we fed our poor babies.
“I’m grateful I have a supportive husband who helps me.”
The couple has 67 cats at home and have set up the Stray Cats of Cahaya Bulan Beach cat welfare society to raise funds.
It costs them about RM250 a day to feed the strays, which is mostly self-funded but they also rely on donations via social media.
“These cats are neglected by society. Nobody cares when they’re hungry or sick. Some we found had been starving for days,” Izyan continued.
“As animal lovers, it is part of our duty to give food and not let them starve to death.
“Especially during fasting month when shops and restaurants are closed, making it harder for the cats to find food to eat.”
Izyan and Hakim treating their fur babies to a special Raya feast of boiled chicken. — Picture via Instagram/Izyan_ Syahida
Although she considers herself doing only a small part, she hopes it inspires others to help do the same.
She also hopes the street cat population will shrink significantly and that people stop abandoning and dumping their pets.
“They lead a hard life fending for themselves on the streets. They’re forced to look for food in rubbish dumps and beg restaurant customers for food. Many don’t get to eat at all and starve to death.
“So, stop dumping your cats on the streets, especially kittens who get hit by cars.
“My hope is that the authorities punish those who do so because it’s a crime under the Animal Welfare Act 2015. Catch them and punish them to the full extent of the law.”
Those who wish to donate to Izyan and Hakim’s cat society fund may contact them at 013-999 3328.
