Hello all. I’m part of a group called Cats In Need from Phnom Penh. I cannot begin to properly explain the crisis we are facing there, but I’ll try to bullet point it at the end so you can get an idea.
We’re seeking people interested in adopting Khmer cats, specifically in the USA and Canada because these are easier countries to bring cats into. In general, Khmer cats are smaller in stature than the average domestic shorthair in other countries. They are social, intelligent, friendly, and rather adaptable as far as cats go. They often have curly or kinked tails and yellow or brown eyes, though the coat color varies greatly. Common in Cambodia but rare elsewhere is the concentration of female orange cats. They’re everywhere in Cambodia, so you can easily take home a super unique new friend. There are some fees associated with the adoption, but this is to cover vet and document costs. We do not make a profit from any adoptions. I have personal experience bringing cats to America from Cambodia, and the support of the team in terms of travel advice and organisation comes free of charge to those who pass the screening process. If you’re looking to get a more exotic feline friend while also saving a life, consider adopting through Cats In Need. Included are pics of some of the cats we’ve helped, some of which have potential adopters and others we are still looking for homes for.
A list of some of the aforementioned challenges we’re facing:
-Many locals don’t believe in desexing cats due to their religious beliefs. The population is out of control
-The high density of cats means the rapid spread of diseases like FPV and an increased risk of developing FIP
-Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to round up cats and bring them to the meat market. This happened to a group of cats my friend was caring for and it’s a constant fear in my group that it will happen to the cats we haven’t gotten into foster care
-11 kittens went missing in the same day a few days ago from the pagoda we take care of. They’re too small for meat, but people will kill or throw away cats because they don’t like them. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find fosters quickly enough to save them