From Lockdown Rescue to Full‑Time Responsibility
Aisha Rashid, a 39‑year‑old Pakistani expatriate in Dubai, is under threat of eviction for sheltering 65 rescued cats inside her apartment. The property management company has given her until October 2 to remove the animals.
Her journey began during the COVID‑19 lockdown. The stray cats’ caretaker left the country and no one remained to feed them. Rashid and her mother stepped in. When the original caregiver declined to resume the duty, Rashid took full responsibility. What began as a temporary act transformed into a large‑scale rescue effort that overtook her personal life.
Financial and Emotional Burden Mounts
Rashid earns Dh 7,000 a month working in a back‑office services firm in the auto loan department. Much of her income is spent on cats. Over six years, she has financed neutering for about 150 cats and paid veterinary care of Dh 4,000–5,000 monthly. Rent is also a heavy burden.
As her reputation grew, more abandoned cats were left near her home. Many arrived in poor health. Some cats lost eyes. Others are partially blind. Two were injured in hit‑and‑run accidents and suffered bone fractures. Veterinary bills have soared as high as Dh 5,000 per case. One clinic allowed payment in instalments because of her strained finances.
Rashid’s family is suffering too. Her mother is battling blood cancer, having survived breast cancer earlier. Her father is retired. Her brother helps pay part of the household rent. She pays Dh 31,000 annually for the apartment where the cats live.
To ease tensions with neighbors, the family rented a second apartment nearby for themselves. They continue feeding strays outside her main unit.
Penalties, Eviction Threat, and Urgent Plea
The property management group fined Rashid Dh 8,000 for keeping cats in the apartment. She was told the fine will be waived only if she removes all the animals. Otherwise, she must vacate, despite having paid rent through December. Space constraints have led to fights among the cats. Behaviour issues have also emerged.
Rashid is now making a desperate plea. She is asking authorities, shelters, and animal lovers for support. She hopes to relocate the cats to a villa or farmhouse where they can live safely.
“No one wants stray cats; they all want purebreds,” she said. “But we are humans. We must care for them. Even though I struggle, I cry when I see abandoned cats.”
