Street cats in Abu Dhabi never go hungry

Come rain or shine, street cats in Abu Dhabi never go hungry, thanks to a kind soul.
Indian expat Ibrahim Ahmed or better known as 'Cat Ibrahim' is a one-man army feeding hundreds of felines on the Capital's streets, that too from his own pocket.
"I don't care if I have to starve. But I cannot see the cats hungry. They are my babies," says the 48-year-old who earns around Dh4,000 as a public relations officer in a private firm.
The man says he has to dig deep into his pocket to feed the cats "because there are so many who will otherwise die of hunger."
"I spent more than half of my salary on cat food and medicines. I take them to the vet if they fall sick."
Every evening after work, Ibrahim sets out to the streets with a trolley stacked with cat food. Sometimes he hitches a ride with a friend who has a car. His first stop is the Capital Garden on Khalifa Street. At the very sight of the 'cat man', dozens of cats with their kittens emerge out of the bushes and come running to him. They know their saviour.
Is a delight to watch Ibrahim pamper his feline friends. He puts them on his lap, pets them and talks to them. If one of them is sick, Ibrahim whips out some medicines and offers a few drops.
"There is a flu doing rounds and many of them are not eating well. I feel worried when they don't eat," says Ibrahim.
After Capital Garden, he proceeds to the next station. There are hundreds of cats waiting for him daily near the Corniche, in Hamdan Street, Najda and Khalidiya.
"I walk around 10 to 12km daily to reach as many cats as possible. But the problem is I am diabetic and I cannot walk long distances. I need to take breaks in between," said the man.
But there is nothing that stops Cat Ibrahim from his mission.
"Even as a kid I loved cats, all animals. Even if I see an ant drowning in a puddle of water, I will stop by to rescue it. I think my passion for cats has grown with me," said Ibrahim who is married with five children between the age group 23 and 10.
He said he is happy that his friends and acquaintances call him 'Cat Ibrahim' "It is a recognition," he said.
What hurts Ibrahim the most is to see the cruelty to animals. "I cannot tell you the sufferings of street cats. People kick them around and throw away their food. I regularly rescue cats whose tails are cut off, eyes gauged out and bones broken. It makes me cry," says the cat man.
He says there is only so much he can do with his meager salary. I do my bit. But I wish people were kinder towards cats," said Ibrahim.
Ibrahim and his cats
> Every evening after work, Ibrahim sets out with a trolley stacked with cat food
> His first stop is the Capital Garden on Khalifa Street
> More than half of Ibrahim's Dh4,000 salary is used on cat food and medicines
> He takes them to the vet if they fall sick
> He walks around 10 to 12km daily to reach as many cats as possible
anjana@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi