Woman spends Dhs400,000 saving stray cats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
- Last updated: April 6, 2026 | 15:20
Duha Khaled Al Nasser never imagined that her intense fear of cats, which sometimes led to panic attacks at the mere sight of them, would transform into a long humanitarian journey of rescuing and caring for animals.
Today, she cares for approximately 230 cats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and since 2020 has rescued and treated nearly 100 cases, spending around Dhs400,000 over six years on stray cats.
The story began in May 2020. Duha was heading from her house to the car when she heard a strange scream near the wheel of a car. She kept searching for around 15 minutes before she discovered a small kitten that was no more than two weeks old with very poor health.
Fear of animals
“Since I was a child, I have been afraid of animals in general and cats in particular. My fear was so intense that any cat approaching me would cause me panic attacks, so coming across that little cat was a very difficult situation for me,” Duha said.
“Despite my fear, I carried the small kitten with difficulty and wrapped it in a shawl, then I started looking for anyone who could help me. One of my acquaintances directed me to a rescue account on Instagram. I posted the small kitten’s case and a rescuer contacted me and helped me treat the small kitten but it died after a while,” she added.
That moment, albeit harsh, was the turning point in her life, she said, adding, “Since that day I began to notice the cats and animals around me more; some of them were hungry, others were sick and others were lost. I started putting food for the cats near the house and then I began to get to know them one by one, until I could distinguish each cat and notice its absence from the feeding time.”
During that period, Duha lived in Abu Dhabi and worked in Al Ain, which meant she saw daily numbers of cats in difficult situations near her workplace and on the way to her work.
“I started putting food in the car and no longer went anywhere without having food for the cats with me. After a while, I designated certain areas in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain that I visit daily to provide them with food and water,” she said.
The cats began over time to trust her and grow closer and she could realize that many of them suffered from infections, contagious diseases, fractures and injuries from being trampled over, she added. She then began taking them to veterinary clinics and returning them to their homes if their condition allowed, she said.
“In some simple cases, I used to treat them myself in the street but for the more difficult cases, I took them to clinics. There were cases that required long-term care, especially cats with immunodeficiency or chronic diseases, so I would follow up with them daily or look for permanent homes for them,” she added.
Suitable adopters
Finding suitable adopters was not easy, especially since the homes of some cats were far away, she said, describing the process as long, complicated, costly and psychologically exhausting due to the sense of responsibility involved in choosing the right place for them.
One of the most difficult situations she went through was the rescue operations during the rainy season, when some small kittens were trapped inside water drains, she said.
“On more than one occasion I enlisted the help of specialized workers to open the drains and rescue the cats, and in some cases where I could not find anyone to help me, I had to go down myself. I also rescued small kittens that had been thrown into garbage containers, and this was one of the scenes that affected me the most psychologically,” she added.
She affirmed that many small kittens lost their lives while they were in her hands on the way to the clinic, but she still believed that her presence on the way was not in vain, she said.
“Even when I could not save them, I felt that my presence with them in their last moments was important and that caring for them, even for a few moments, had a great reward,” she added.
This daily suffering prompted her to seek radical solutions and learn about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programmes, which aimed at reducing random breeding and maintaining the health of cats, she said.
“I started neutering every cat I could trap. I neutered a large number of cats in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai but there are a large number of them and we need a greater community effort to make a real difference,” she added.
Currently, Duha takes care of about 230 cats in several areas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, by providing food, water, treatment and daily follow-up. Since 2020, she has been able to rescue and treat about 100 cats, including cases brought to her by other people because they did not have the necessary experience or capabilities.
Dhs400,000
“From 2020 until today, this journey has cost me approximately Dhs400,000 including treatment, surgeries, medicines, food, transportation and accommodation. In some years, I spent thousands of dirhams per month, especially with cases that required surgeries or a long stay inside veterinary clinics,” she said.
She pointed out that one of the bills from a single clinic showed that the total amount spent on treating and caring for cats exceeded Dhs158,730 including more than Dhs83,000 in the last 12 months alone.
Despite all the fatigue, losses and difficult situations she faced, Duha confirmed that this journey completely changed her.
She concluded her speech by saying, “I never imagined that I would reach a stage where I could hold cats, treat them and approach them without fear, but today I feel that these souls were not only saved by me, but they also saved me and changed me.”