Presented at the InSPAration on 21 October 2021.
Saudi Arabian Landscape of Feline Lives: Reducing Abandonment of Domestic Cats (Felis Silvestris Catus) by Analysing Reasons for Relinquishment in Saudi Arabia
Domestic cats are ubiquitous in Saudi Arabia (KSA). They live in the streets, in homes, are bred, frequently traded and often abandoned. Many do not thrive in the streets, simply survive and many perish once abandoned. As Saudi Arabia opens its doors to tourism and social media gives a platform to sellers, rescuers and relinquishers alike, the domestic cat landscape in KSA is receiving increased attention from various stakeholders. Labouring in the Saudi Arabian rescue world for sixteen years and founding one of the first legal animal welfare charities in KSA has given the researcher and her research a unique insight into why cats are relinquished and often abandoned in KSA. Furthermore, this research offers strategies to improve the feline landscape for all stakeholders, especially the marginalised feline population.
This research engages social media posts, cat adoption applications, interviews with two companion animal professionals and the researcher’s autoethnographic voice. The findings show multiple factors for relinquishment and ultimately abandonment ranging from expectations not meeting reality, care costs, normalisation of cats belonging in the street to lack of facilities, changes in circumstances of both cat and human, family pressure and lack of cat care information to a range of misinformation being circulated about cat welfare.
The researcher is seeking to positively impact the lives of cats and humans residing in Saudi Arabia by presenting these conclusions in the hope of engaging in further dialogue with Saudi Arabian authorities.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.17851.69928
