KOTA BHARU (Bernama) – More than 400 stray cats at the Prihatin Care Centre in Kampung Kubang Terap, Pasir Mas were feared falling victims to flood when their shelter was flooded by more than two metres of water.
Its owner Aelyusmida Awang, 27, said that she and several other staff had not been able to visit the care centre for two days because they were also victims of the flood when their homes were almost inundated.
“Our last visit to the care centre was two days ago. At that time, the water level in the building was already chest-high.
“Given that the water level is rising, we are worried about the cats’ safety, so we broke part of the ceiling to enable the cats take shelter in that part,” she told Bernama Friday.
She said they only managed to move some of the cats to an old building located in the area while the other half were still in the existing building.
Aelyusmida said they were unable to move all the cats because at that time the water level was rising rapidly and they had to leave the area immediately.
“We managed to provide them with food but it has been two days, so the food may have run out.
“We planned to go there today to break the roof of the building so the cats could go up to a higher area but were informed that the entrance to the care centre had been flooded and could only be accessed by boat,” She said.
She said she contacted security agencies but they were in the midst of their busy schedule to rescue flood victims and so far there was no help to save the animals.
According to her, the care centre which was opened in February this year houses more than 400 stray cats which were captured by local authorities around Pasir Mas.
She said that to look after the welfare of the animals, she and five other friends decided to establish the care centre on a piece of waqf land in the area.
“We hope someone will come forward to help save these cats because if the flood worsens, there is a possibility that they will be swept away by the current or die,” she said.