Dozens of cats rescued in Kuwait are now in Northern Virginia and Maryland getting new homes.
Rochelle Millard, a volunteer with Fairfax-based 4Paws Rescue Team, says the 58 cats that arrived at Dulles International Airport Thursday came from what she describes as “heartbreaking” conditions.
“They have a tendency over there to breed more exotic-type breeds,” she says of cat breeding in Kuwait.
Rather than the standard tabby or domestic shorthair cats seen in the U.S., she says in Kuwait breeders mix the Persian, British shorthair, and Scottish fold breeds to create cats with squishier faces and lots of fur.
“As you can imagine, doing all this interbreeding, this actually leads to a lot of these cats with a lot of congenital conditions, a lot of eye problems, and most certainly a lot of upper respiratory complications,” Millard says.
Add to that, the cats in Kuwait often are not spayed or neutered and are “dumped on the street” or abused, she says.
Now that the 58 cats are in the region, 4Paws, and two organizations in Maryland — Last Chance Animal Rescue and Kitty Loves Kuwait — are working to find them new homes. Last Chance received 22 cats and Kitty Loves Kuwait, 20.
Some of the 16 cats 4Paws took in have been adopted, while some are pending adoption, Millard says. Others are being fostered, are either awaiting foster homes, or will soon go up for adoption.
As the cats are ready for adoption, 4Paws lists them on its Facebook page and Instagram page, as well as on its website. It also works with Catty Corner Café in Leesburg to get cats adopted.
Millard’s advice for people interested in adopting is very simple.
“A lot of these cats have baggage,” she says. “Honestly, my biggest piece of advice is patience. These cats have been through a lot.”
Unlike other cats that 4Paws rescues, Millard says the volunteer organization doesn’t know much about the backstory of each Kuwaiti cat, including whether it was abused, neglected, or dumped.
“You know, some of these cats will just come straight out of the carrier, tails in the air, and they’re like, ‘Hey, how are you? Pleased to meet you?’ You know, really quite resilient. And, of course, you get other cats that are very timid and very shy, because they’ve been through a lot and they’re not as resilient. And it really just is a case of, you know, people just being very patient with them,” she says.
She also recommends making sure you have all of the supplies you need before bringing one home. Those include litter boxes, food, bedding, and toys.
More information about fostering and adopting can be found on 4Paws website.
The organization also has a couple of adoption events planned for March:
- March 11, 1-5 p.m. at the Petco in Fairfax, 10708 Lee Highway;
- March 19, from 1-4 p.m. at Petco in Sterling, 22000 Dulles Retail Plaza.
Feature image courtesy 4Paws Rescue Team
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