A group of strangers came together to save a pregnant cat falling from a second-floor balcony in Dubai. The group acted fast, using a bedsheet as a safety net just in time.
One of the men, Mohammed Rashid, captured the harrowing moment on video, which went viral. The men came from diverse backgrounds and had never met before.
Mohammed Rashid talking about his experience, All images via YouTube
As the cat dangled from the balcony, the men lifted the bedsheet high. Another man held up an empty box just in case. Fortunately, the pregnant cat fell right into the leopard-spotted sheet. Then, she is seen receiving pets from the men and, astonishingly, seemed almost as if nothing happened.
The rescuers were:
- Nasser, an Indian driver
- Ashraf, a Moroccan watchman
- Atif Mehmood, a Pakistani salesman
- Mohammed Rashid, a resident of Dubai
“We all sort of just came together to save the cat,” Atif said.
(From L to R) Nasser (Indian driver), Ashraf (Moroccan watchman), Mohammed Rashid and Atif Mehmood (Pakistani salesman)
In a video (see below), you can see the cat is eating and appears to be just fine. Recently, we shared a video from Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where a cat fell 60 feet in a viral video. Thankfully, quick-thinking football fans equipped with an American flag cushioned the fall. In response, the stadium erupted in cheers not heard in years.
Viral Cat Video Shared by Ruler of Dubai
On Twitter, HH Sheikh Mohammed, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai shared the viral cat video.
“Proud and happy to see such acts of kindness in our beautiful city. Whoever identifies these unsung heroes, please help us thank them,” he tweeted.
After the men were located, they received cash prizes from the Dubai Ruler. They received Dh50,000 each “for their quick thinking that saved the cat’s life,” reported the Khaleej Times. In US dollars, 50,000 Dirham currently converts to about $13,612.
See what happened in the video from the Khaleej Times:
Stray Cats in Dubai
It’s heartwarming to see the cat saved and the men rewarded for their heroic actions. However, in recent years, Dubai has come under fire by animal rights activists for its many stray cats. Petitions have gathered thousands of signatures due to the cruel treatment of thousands of stray cats and dogs.
According to Reuters:
“Dubai has a large number of stray cats, with many abandoned on the streets by their owners. In 2018 UAE authorities made it illegal to abandon animals, but animal welfare activists in Dubai have for years called for a large-scale trap-neuter-release scheme and feeding programs to bring numbers down humanely.”
In August, a Dubai municipality reinforced fines for people who feed stray cats. According to the policy, feeding stray cats “increases the spread of diseases.”
The Ailuromania Cat Cafe
A very bright spot for cats in Dubai is The Ailuromania Cat Cafe, which opened in 2015 as an adoption center to help stray cats. Ailuraomania is a play on the word ailurophile for cat lovers. There, you can grab a cup of “Catuccino.”
Enjoying a Catuccino
“Anyone who is stressed just has to find a cat. All your stress will go away,” said Omnia Fareed, whose sisters opened the cafe.
The Ailuromania Cat Cafe
Recently, the cafe reopened after lockdown due to the coronavirus.
See more about The Ailuromania Cat Cafe in the cute video from Curly Tales:
