A British woman recently rescued an abandoned housecat who had been living for 2 years in a derelict bathroom, and is arranging to fly the “gentle” animal back to the UK.

Hobbyist animal rescuer Chiku Singh was sent a picture of the long-haired cat by a stranger and drove out to Abu Dhabi on August 8th from her home in Dubai to locate it.

Singh managed to find the street cat in the process of feeding other strays, and noticed it looked frightened. She was told by laborers the cat had been seen over the last two years—sheltering under sheets of metal in a derelict bathroom.

“She’s such a gentle cat who has endured such hardship. It broke my heart when I first saw her,” Singh said. “I’m so happy that she’s getting a new start.”

It wasn’t straightforward though, as the cat had made a refuge beyond the reach of an outstretched hand in a derelict building’s bathroom.

Singh had to make the 90-minute drive from her home in Dubai to Abu Dhabi after work every day for 3 weeks to check on the cat, try to feed her and attempt to build trust before she was able to coax her out of her hiding place and get her to a vet.

She was treated by Dr. Kamal Adel, at Capital Vet Clinic, Abu Dhabi and he gave her vaccinations, worm and flea treatment, and bathed her.

She is now finalizing arrangements to fly the cat—who she named Tara Nova, which means ‘new star,’ to a family in the UK.

“She looked completely lost and fearful. It was clear she didn’t belong there,” Singh recalled. “The workmen said the stray cats bullied her, and we thought she had probably been a pet and had been abandoned. She was scared and alone, and I couldn’t walk away.”

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Singh moved to Dubai from London 20 years ago, and says that recent measures in the UAE, including microchipping pets and registration becoming mandatory in Abu Dhabi, are strong steps toward progress in animal welfare. Islamic countries like Turkey and Morocco are famous for their gentleness towards stray cats, and many can live long, well-fed lives on the streets of these countries.

The other side to that picture, one might argue, is that the tolerance of street cats inhibits the growth of laws that might help diminish their number and sufferings.

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While that’s a conversation for another place and time, the currently moment sees Tara Nova waiting at a foster home in Abu Dhabi while Singh plans her move to the UK and into a loving, forever home.

“Nova’s story could have ended in silence, but instead she curls up in comfort and safety on a soft blanket,” she said. “She was always a treasure, just waiting for someone to see her. Rescuing starts with noticing.”

SHARE This Woman’s Passion For Animals, And A Sweet Cat Who Found A Savior…