But cat-loving engineer Raziellia Nor Saafri, 32, said that she is living her best life, devoting her time and money to the 61 furry felines she has opened her home to in Penang.
Speaking to FMT recently, Raziellia said most of the cats in her care were once strays roaming the back lanes of her neighbourhood or abandoned as kittens near dustbins or by the roadside.
“I’ve always felt sympathetic towards injured cats or cats with diseases such as scabies, eye infections, or even feline parvovirus (FPV).
“It just breaks my heart seeing them lying on the pavement, skinny and bruised, with nothing to eat,” she said.
Finding it next to impossible to leave them to fend for themselves, Raziellia picks them up instead and takes them to the nearest vet for a medical check-up.
Some have required round-the-clock care to nurse them back to health which she somehow has found the time and energy to do at her home.
As a result, most of these stray cats have found permanent residence at her home, something she is more than happy about after having forged close bonds with them during their recovery.
An advocate of neutering to stop unwanted pregnancies and to control the overpopulation of cats, Raziellia dutifully sends her rescues for neutering or spaying when they are old enough for it.
Taking to social media, she also helps create greater awareness of the ‘Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage’ (TNRM) programme, to reduce the population of stray cats.
“On the streets, strays are everywhere, and yet there’s so little awareness to reduce their numbers. Why do we need more roaming on the streets? Who is going to look after them?” she said.
Despite a demanding full-time job, Raziellia makes sure she spends at least two hours every day with her cats after work.
Then there are the not-so-pleasant chores like cleaning their cages, changing the kitty litter trays, feeding them and checking on those who require medical attention.
Mornings are spent feeding them before heading to work. However, on days when she just has too much on her plate, her parents lend a helping hand to clean the cages and feed the cats.
“Every month, I allocate RM1,500 for my cats’ food. Additionally, I have savings to pay for their medical bills. I’m also frugal with my money as my cats are my priority,” she said.
Since she spends so much time each day with the furry felines, she is proud to say that she knows the names of all her cats – yes, each and every one of the felines in her care.
“From the 61 cats, three are Persians while the rest are domestic short-haired cats. And each and every one of them has got a certain trait and a distinct feature.
“Having cats is like having many friends – you know their different personalities and you can distinguish one from the other. It’s the same with my cats as I share a special bond with them,” she said.
Follow Raziellia and her cats on Instagram.