Complete with air conditioning, a treatment room, surveillance cameras, and play areas, the house now shelters around 20 felines, most of them rescued from the streets.
Chak, 63, told FMT she began housing stray cats there in March last year after purchasing and renovating the property to make it suitable for the animals.
“All of the cats, some of which I rescued two to five years ago, are mine and are not for up for adoption,” she explained.
“I want to ensure they live the rest of their lives in a comfortable and safe environment.”
Chak – who is also the founder of Lingy Pet Adoption, a rescue initiative established three years ago – added that she also uses the house as a temporary shelter.
The director of a vehicle company recalled a rescue mission last December, during which she helped save stray cats that were attacked by wild dogs at a university.
Alongside other activists and students, Chak successfully rescued and relocated about 22 cats from the edcuational institution.
She covered all costs for treatment, rehabilitation and food. Happily, almost all the rescues have since found new homes.
Besides saving street cats, Chak once helped a white cat that had been caged for three years and bred unethically, without a licence, for commercial purposes.
“When rescued, Zara weighed only 1.8kg. We took her to a clinic for a blood test, and the vet confirmed she had stage-three kidney disease.
“The vet said she might only live another six months. But, after intensive treatment, Zara now weighs almost 5kg – close to a normal cat’s weight – and has made a full recovery.”
Commenting on Zara’s story, licensed breeder Angeliana Dennis Timban acknowledged that some individuals breed cats unethically and neglect their wellbeing.
Under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, anyone intending to breed cats commercially must obtain a licence from the veterinary services department.
Angeliana said although she often faces criticism as a breeder, her mission is clear: to ensure the cats are responsibly cared for and placed with suitable owners, while educating the public on proper breeding practices.
“Irresponsible breeders lack knowledge and don’t follow procedures,” she pointed out. “They allow cats that are siblings to breed, resulting in deformed kittens.
“They are just after money and don’t care about the cats’ welfare.”
Angeliana, on the other hand, breeds British Shorthair cats in an ethical and professional manner. Kittens are only sold after receiving three vaccine doses, full blood tests, and a health certificate, typically at five to six months of age.
“I only allow one cat to give birth once a year. There are two dedicated rooms where they reside: one for the females and their kittens, another for the males.
“Buyers are also screened – I find out how many cats they already have, and whether their environment is suitable.
“If they plan to keep the cat in a cage – even if they can afford to buy a cat from me, I won’t sell,” she said firmly.
Angeliana shared that the proceeds from sales of kittens are reinvested into care costs, including electricity, food and treatment, which can total over RM10,000 per month.
“One of my cats once had to stay in the ward for eight days, and the bill amounted to RM3,000 – all paid with proceeds from sales, which are not for personal use,” she stressed.