Mohd Taufik Md Zain and his wife Noor Azlina Abu Bakar, both 59, have a deep love for cats – so much so that, when they ran out of room at home, they looked for a bigger space that could house the 150 felines under their care.
This led to them establishing Bustana Kucing by renting a space within the Perlis Snake and Reptile Farm here in 2015.
Managed by Mohd Taufik, it now has 26 employees who are responsible for the cats, including cleaning the cages from 9am to noon.
“We take in cats from all over the country, including strays and our own rescues, as well as those in need of medical treatment or surrendered by their owners for various reasons,” Mohd Taufik told Bernama recently.
“Sometimes, people have no choice but to leave their cats with us due to certain circumstances. We accept them,” he said, adding that there is usually an uptick of animals being left at the shelter during school holidays.
Mohd Taufik explained that there is a surrender fee of RM50 for each cat – RM100 if they are pregnant – which helps fund their operations and care services.
“Our shelter operates daily except on certain festive days, with staff ensuring the cats’ welfare even during holidays,” he added.
Bustana Kucing is equipped with comprehensive facilities to ensure the wellbeing of the felines, and operates legally having obtained a licence from the veterinary services department in 2023.
The couple uses their own funds to cover costs, which includes RM13,000 a month for food and RM9,000 for medical expenses. In addition, the shelter receives donations from the public in the form of money and cat food.
Visitors to the reptile park can visit Bustana Kucing using the same ticket purchased for entry.
Learn more about Bustana Kucing on Facebook.
Perlis Snake and Reptile Farm
Jalan Sungai Batu Pahat,
Kangar, Perlis