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“Not A Cat Person, But One Kitten Instil Empathy In Me For The Voiceless”- I Start A Cat Rescue Mission With Peers In UM In Our First Year

It all started as a group assignment for a group of first-year students.
What started as a compulsory coursework assignment at Universiti Malaya (UM) turned into a life-saving mission when several students took matters into their own hands following a string of cat killings on campus grounds.

They are Jared, a first-year Computer Science student, and his team members Li Xin and Hana, who transformed their community coursework project into a rescue mission under their initiative, Hope for Strays, after hearing about the tragic incidents.

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From coursework to cat rescue

The project initially began as a “stray animal photoshoot competition” and planned talks, part of their compulsory ‘Service Learning Malaysia – University for Society (SULAM)’ coursework.

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However, the team shifted gears after news of the third case happened in late November.

When the third case happened, it became clear we had to act fast,” Jared shared. “We wrote a memorandum, collaborated with student representatives, and got in touch with NGOs and individual rescuer like Shima Aris to start a rescue mission.”

The memorandum, which also addressed other campus issues, urged the UM management to take immediate action. Within 24 hours of submitting it, Jared and his team gathered volunteers and launched their first rescue mission.

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A sleepless night of saving lives

The rescue mission, which lasted from 8pm to 1am, saw 22 cats being successfully rescued from UM’s campus. However, the operation was not without its challenges.

“We had to navigate restrictions, coordinate with police, and manage resources,” Jared explained.

After the rescue mission, the team transported the cats to a temporary shelter and spent the remaining hours setting up the shelter, organising the cats into cages, and ensuring they were comfortable.

“Thanks to the help of NGOs and UM alumni, we managed to transport the cats to a temporary shelter where they were vaccinated and cared for.

By the time we were finished with the rescue mission, it was already 7am and we were completely exhausted. But, we were also satisfied with what we had achieved.

“We also noticed that many of the volunteers were foreign students who had been following the cases closely on social media, particularly on platforms like Xiaohongshu,” said Jared.

‘Empathy drives action’

For Jared, who initially wasn’t a cat lover, the experience was transformative in every way possible.

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“To be honest, I wasn’t really a cat person,” he admitted. “I thought strays were dirty and messy. I’d see them around but never felt a connection.” Yet, life at UM and one small kitten completely changed his perspective.

Jared’s empathy began to take root long before he started university. Growing up in a single-parent household with financial struggles, he learned to appreciate small acts of kindness.

“We couldn’t afford to have pets,” he shared, “but my brother, an animal lover, always encouraged us to do something, even if it was small. We’d leave out trays of cat food for strays in our neighborhood. I’d see them come, eat, and then go. It felt like we were making a tiny difference.”

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But it wasn’t until Jared encountered a kitten at his faculty that his heart truly softened.

That was the first time I ever petted a cat, and it completely melted my heart.”

"not a cat person, but one kitten instil empathy in me for the voiceless"- i start a cat rescue mission with peers in um in our first year | weirdkaya
Screenshot via Instagram/ Hope for Strays

From that point onwards, he began to see the kitten more frequently around the faculty, often near a small pond.

“She’d try to drink from the pond, but the fishes would come up as if to say, ‘Hey, that’s our water!’ It was the cutest thing ever,” he said while smiling at the memory.

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Despite his growing affection, he couldn’t find the kitten during the rescue mission. “We searched everywhere. I even posted on Instagram, asking if anyone had seen her, but there was no response. It breaks my heart to think she might still be out there in a vulnerable state.”

For Jared, his transformation into a cat lover changed him on a deeply personal level. “I think that kitten taught me something I didn’t realise I needed to learn: empathy.”

Stepping up despite busy schedule

For Li Xin, her love for cats didn’t come naturally—it was something she resisted for a long time.

“I’ve always been awkward around animals,” she admitted. “Every time my sister saw a stray cat, she’d run over, pet it, and gush about how cute it was. But I’d just stand there, not knowing what to do.”

Her hesitation wasn’t due to dislike but rather a fear of attachment. “I didn’t want to get attached to a cat because I knew I’d feel sad if I never saw it again,” she explained. “It was easier to keep my distance than to open myself up to that kind of heartbreak.”

However, everything changed when Li Xin encountered a small kitten at her faculty. “The kitten was so playful and tiny. There was just this sense of innocence about it.

“For the first time, I felt compelled to get closer. I even petted it, which was something I never thought I’d do,” she said.

That moment stayed with Li Xin, but it wasn’t until she joined Jared and Hana on the rescue mission that her perspective shifted entirely. “Holding those cats, seeing how scared and vulnerable they were — it made me realise how much they rely on us.

As students, we’re so busy with deadlines and assignments. I didn’t think I could do much, but when Jared started taking action, it inspired me to join.”

From one stray cat to a family of seven

Hana’s connection with animals began at her grandmother’s house, where a heavily pregnant stray cat sought refuge when she was just 13.

"not a cat person, but one kitten instil empathy in me for the voiceless"- i start a cat rescue mission with peers in um in our first year | weirdkaya
Photo provided to WeirdKaya

“She gave birth at my neighbor’s house but eventually brought two of her kittens to our home,” Hana recalled. “I didn’t know much about cats back then, but I couldn’t turn them away. I just started taking care of them.”

One of the kittens, a calico, became particularly special to Hana. “That calico cat is still with us today, seven years later. She’s a bit of a diva and sleeps on the dining table every night like it’s her personal throne.”

"not a cat person, but one kitten instil empathy in me for the voiceless"- i start a cat rescue mission with peers in um in our first year | weirdkaya
Photo provided to WeirdKaya

Over the years, Hana’s family grew into a multi-generational household of cats. “The calico had a kitten, and that kitten had more kittens. Now, there are seven cats at my grandma’s house. It’s like a legacy of love,” she said with a laugh.

Building a sustainable future for strays

The team plans to continue their work even after their semester ends. Future plans include hosting physical talks, organising more rescue missions, and collaborating with other student and NGO-led groups.

“By the end of the semester, many students will return home, leaving the campus empty. We want to ensure the stray population is controlled and cared for,” Jared said. “Our goal is to find forever homes for these animals and reduce their numbers on campus.”

Hope for Stray is also helping other student rescue groups by providing resources like adoption listings and awareness campaigns.

They also urge the public not to spread misinformation, as some parties may exploit the situation by scamming and faking donation drives during such times.

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