A combo image shows the missing kitten and Zana Ismail playing with a tiny feline creature.

Syed Shayaan Bakht, Staff Reporter

An ardent lover of cats in Dubai, Zana Ismail, has made an emotional appeal to a lady who separated a newborn kitten from her mother in Deira.

Zana, who lives in Deira, told Gulf Today that over the past few weeks he has been looking after a cat family, especially the kittens.

He said, “Near my workplace in Deira behind Sabkha Bus Station, there were some street cats. I always feed them and have been doing it for the past 6 years.”

Zana, who runs a shipping company in Dubai, has been looking after the domestic feline creatures for years.

The 45-year-old charming Iraqi-born British citizen, who has spent most of his life in the UK, said, “I have been living in Dubai for the past 7 years. I like the warmth of the country.”

Zana said, “Over the years, I have rescued several cats, and I bring them home, pet them. 

A combo image shows the missing kitten and Zana Ismail feeding cats.

“But recently, two of the cats gave birth to kittens. I have been monitoring them for a long time.”

Zana said, “Day before yesterday, I went to feed them and realised that one of the kittens was missing. She was only 3 weeks old.”

I asked a shopkeeper about the kitten, he said, “A lady took her away.”

Zana said, “For the last two days, the parents of the kitten are meowing and howling. They are heartbroken.

“I think that’s horrible and nasty and not right for someone to take the little kitten away from the parents or any other animal...”

Zana added, “What would this lady do if someone took her baby away, she wouldn’t like it, right? Would she?

“These cats and animals have feelings, especially the kitten, who is just weeks old.”

Zana is an avid animal lover. He said everyone in the Deira area knows him for his humane gesture towards animals and cats.

An emotional Zana said, “I can’t eat or sleep, I am heartbroken, I love these cats and all other animals.”

Zana has appealed to everyone and to the lady to return the kitten.

Zana said, “I don’t know how someone could do something like this. I really don’t understand. I have a message for this lady wherever she is. Please bring this kitten back to her parents where she belongs, she’s only 3 weeks old.”

Zana said, “My message is simple. Don’t disturb animals. Just like us, they have feelings.”