International Cat Day
Almost everyone has a cat they recognise without realising it. The calico weaving through the rickshaws at the Margao bus stand, the white tabby patiently waiting for the morning nustekann rounds, or the grey-and-white cat stretched outside the Panaji ATM. We may never know where they came from or where they disappear to, but they have become part of the neighbourhood. International Cat Day is an opportunity to look a little closer at these familiar strangers and the unique place they hold in our lives.
For a few people in Goa, these cats are more than just a familiar sight; they are life's work. For Judy Correia, founder of Goa Cat Haven, a registered NGO exclusively for cats in Goa, it all began with an unexpected visitor. On a rainy day, a heavily pregnant cat climbed to the second-floor apartment where she lived in Margao and gave birth to four kittens within minutes of arriving. “She gave birth in my son's lap. That was around 30 years ago. I didn’t know much about sterilisations then. That day I realised how helpless community cats are. She walked into our home to give birth because she had nowhere else to go,” Correia recalls.
Shraddha Vora, co-founder of Angels for Animals, remembers another rescue that left a lasting impression. A black cat, later named Yogi Baba, was brought to the shelter with all his limbs burnt and one ear cut off. “It was possibly the doing of someone who was practising black magic. He was a black cat,” remarks Vora. For months he remained motionless in his cage, too injured to move. “Then slowly he started to walk out of the cage and heal. Over the year, he completely healed and became the heart of our centre,” she adds, mentioning that he was a true example of resilience and hope.
These stories reflect the quiet work taking place across Goa's growing cat rescue network. International Cat Day, observed on August 8, was established in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to celebrate cats while raising awareness about the welfare of stray and shelter cats.
Behind every rescue, however, are constant challenges. “Initially I would do all the rescue work from my apartment, and keeping more than 25 kittens and around 20 cats in an apartment was very challenging, but I did it,” Correia says. Goa Cat Haven now cares for around 70 rescued cats that arrived with injuries, illnesses, or were abandoned. “Taking care of around 70 cats and sterilisations of thousands of cats, both owned and community ones, is quite a challenge,” she points out. For Vora, transport is one of the biggest obstacles. “People spot an injured cat but are not willing to bring it in. And sometimes transporting injured cats is a real problem,” she shares.
Both rescuers agree that funding remains a constant struggle. “If you cannot rescue or spay, help those who do it, either physically or financially. Sometimes your kind words are enough,” Correia mentions. Goa's shortage of foster homes adds to the burden. “There is almost no foster network in Goa, so the centre has to carry most of the load,” Vora says, adding that releasing recovered cats back into their territories also requires careful planning.
Many rescues begin because people misunderstand cat behaviour. “When someone finds a kitten, you shouldn’t assume they’re abandoned. The mother is often nearby, out looking for food. Picking them up too soon is one of the most common mistakes people make,” Vora says. Both Correia and Vora hope International Cat Day encourages more responsible attitudes towards cats. “Breeding is illegal, so adopt. We don’t rescue the cat; they rescue us,” Vora shares. Correia emphasises the importance of sterilisation. “All cats are loving. There is no such thing as bad cats and good cats. They are such cuddle buddies. Simply spay/neuter them. These lives have feelings as we humans do. Let’s be kinder to animals and humans alike,” she reckons.
The next time a cat darts across a lane, curls up outside a neighbourhood shop or watches the world from a compound wall, it may be worth pausing for a moment. Some have homes, many belong to the community, and each carries a story that often goes unnoticed. Behind many of those stories are rescuers working quietly every day, giving one more cat another chance at life.
