September 2023 Archives

(cat) disaster at the airport: help requested

Update: Koky's Facebook post about this see: (English) https://vermeir.org/flight985 Facebook post from Nada Saad about this see: (English) https://vermeir.org/flight985update

Update 01/10/2024 10:55 PM: Aubrey has been found. She is with Koky. – There is now active cooperation from the airport to find the 2 other cats. Source; (private) SHE Facebook group; (English) https://vermeir.org/flight985update2

Update 02/10/2023 11:00 PM: Not really news but a good 'state of affairs'; (English, private SHE group) https://vermeir.org/flight985update3

Update 09/10/2023: One of the two missing cats has been found in good health! (English) https://vermeir.org/flight985update4

Every day, a whole group of people work hard to provide a safe place for the cats staying in the Safe Haven Egypt shelter. And they look for a suitable adoptive family.

Koky, the manager, always lets the online SHE community know what is going on.

A few days ago she posted a message that support was still needed to enable the transport of 12 SHE cats to the United States of America. – The generous community raised the resources. – Everyone was happy and enthusiastic about the impending departure.

A little later came a photo of the transport boxes; our 12 SHE cats were now effectively leaving!

We welcome then at the haven with smile love and care and when they leave us we say good bye and we wish them all the happiness
Kareema Ibrahim (Koky, manager & founder of SHE

*SHE cats starting their journey, photo for illustration*

On Friday, September 29, our cats left the Haven on their adventure. To Cairo airport and then New York, USA!

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a nightmare.

The departure was just like usual. The cats were properly checked in for their flight

Flight 985, Cairo to New York (JFK).

Our 12 cats traveled together with the cats from another cat shelter.

Seven(!) hours after the plane – as far as known – had left safely with the cats, the message came that 'something' had gone wrong.

Very wrong.

Somehow the transport boxes fell. All boxes were damaged.

Three SHE cats escaped at the airport. And also two cats from the other cat shelter. – So five cats loose at an airport.

Our blind boy Angus was finally found. He drank some water and then died.

Good news is that SHE cat Shadia has been found and is now safe and sound at Koky's home.

~~There is no news yet from Aubrey. He is still missing.~~

Update 01/10/2024 10:55 PM: Aubrey has been found. She is with Koky.

~~The two cats from the other shelter are also still missing.~~ Update 09/10/2023: One of the two has been found (and is fine), one non-SHE cat still remains missing.

So this all happened before the plane took off. The surviving cats were placed on the plane in their damaged boxes. Some transport boxes patched with adhesive tape.

*Aubrey*, *~~missing SHE cat~~* ***FOUND IT!***

When the local SHE volunteer came to pick up the cats at the airport in the USA, they were outside in the pouring rain. Which was probably lucky.

The doors of two transport boxes were missing. The cats were still in there. Apparently too scared to run away.

Safe Haven Egypt was only informed 7 hours after the incident. It was not possible to clarify what exactly happened.

*~~The 1st missing cat from the other cat shelter~~* **FOUND IT!**

Those transport boxes are very sturdy. They don't just break from a simple fall. After insistence, there was nothing more than a weak apology and 'that these things happen'.

Unable to obtain information or cooperation from the airport, the airline Egypt Air or the shipping agent.

We didn't get Angus' body back. Airport employees buried him at the airport. This way we cannot investigate what exactly he died from.

The SHE community is sad and in shock. This – or anything even remotely similar – has never happened before.

We are angry too.

*Missing, 2nd cat from the other cat shelter*

How could such a fragile cargo be handled so negligently? – Why did it take 7 hours to let us know??!!

This also means that Koky and anyone she could round up could not search for the missing cats. Because they didn't know anything.

This is therefore a call to everyone who is well disposed towards Safe Haven Egypt and actually all cat shelter initiatives to put pressure on EgyptAir to help find the 3 missing cats.

And to investigate this thoroughly so that this cannot happen again.

Help bring this to attention through your available social media channels!

Update Sunday October 1: This Facebook post from Nada Saad (ENG) gives a more factual account of the situation, https://vermeir.org/flight985update

Note: this text is a free interpretation of the mind from this Facebook post by Kareema Ibraheem about this tragedy. She is known by the SHE community as 'Koky' and is the founder and beating heart of Safe Haven Egypt.

Short link to this post is: https://vermeir.org/kattenramp

Crystal

This is an adopted cat

***April 2021 – Crystal on the street***

April 2, 2021. – Like many times before, there was a post in the Safe Haven Egypt Facebook group about a cat in distress on the street.

A request for help to save this blind pregnant cat. It received 92 responses. The means were found. A sponsor gave her the name Crystal.

Crystal came to live in Haven. And gave birth to her 3 babies. She was a good mom.

We are now 2 years and a half later. Crystal still lives in Haven. And wait patiently for adoption.

Life was hard for Crystal. That has left traces. Physically and mentally. She lost one eye which was surgically removed. The remaining eye is blind.

A potential adopter of Crystal will have to be patient with her. Crystal is certainly not a 'wild cat'. She will not hide, crawl away from her human. She is not aggressive. But she is 'shy'.

Crystal has a hard time with touch. It took a long time before Crystal wanted to allow Koky to pet her. – The adopter will have to be patient with Crystal.

Crystal is good with other cats. This makes it an option to adopt another cat in addition to Crystal. One that is more social.

Like all of Haven's cats, Crystal has been rendered sterile. She knows how a litter box works. Has received her vaccinations, is chipped...

And when she has found her human she will travel with all the required documents.

Crystal is a blind cat. Fortunately, that is not something to worry about. Blind cats are very adaptable, which is what Chrystal has done. Just try not to move too many things, especially in the beginning, or get in the way.

It is obvious but it needs to be written out; Crystal cannot be left outside freely under any circumstances. – Indoor cat. Cat run. Very well enclosed garden with professional cat fence. – That's how it should be.

Who is considering adopting Crystal then take a look at our adoption procedure. – And – please – don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Cocopuff

This cat is withdrawn of adoption availability

Haven has more than 250 cats. For some cats, their entire history is clear from the point they were found on the street, fell out of their former owner's window, or someone came to dump them at Haven.

This is not so clear about Cocopuff. The earliest mention of Cocopuff is from August 2021. She was in Haven at the time and was in the group for which there was a call for sponsorship to pay for the sterilization.

Most likely, Cocopuff, like so many others, was found as a heavily infected kitten on the street and brought to Haven.

Infections in the eyes of kittens are common. Sometimes the medication can save them. Sometimes not. Cocopuff has lost her eyes. The eyes have been removed. This trauma has not affected her.

Cocopuff is a very friendly girl. She can give a lot of affection. She will gratefully accept petting. Blind cats – such as Cocopuff – also know perfectly how to use the litter box.

She lives in Haven together with many other cats. And actually she would do better somewhere where it is a bit quieter, less busy. She can certainly be kept with other cats, but not too many.

We suspect that Cocopuff is about 2 years and a half old. She has been staying in Haven for 2 years now, so it is really time for Cocopuff to go on a trip.

She has been made infertile, has been given deworming treatments and vaccination against the most common cat diseases. And she will travel with the negative certificate of the test for rabies.

Some people think that black cats bring bad luck, but nothing could be further from the truth. Who wants to improve each other's lives by bringing Cocopuff into your family?

This is possible after completing the adoption procedure. There is an interview with the adopter and a contribution has to be paid.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to send a message to see what is possible.

Note about the photos: the photo below is the best available, before the surgery on the eyes. The most recent photo is at the very bottom with eyes removed.

Mitzi Rose

This is an adopted cat

Looking 'nice' is no guarantee not to be dumped on the street. Haven received a tip from a beautiful house cat, a Persian cat, that had been abandoned on the street. That is a difficult life for every cat. Such a beautiful cat wouldn't stay beautiful for long.

The foundling was given a place in Haven. And turned out to be pregnant. None of Mitzi Rose's kittens survived.

In the meantime, Mitzi Rose has been staying with us for 9 months. We estimate her to be approximately 3 years old. She is chipped and has had all her vaccinations, including rabies. Has undergone sterilization.

Deworming, flea treatment...and of course she goes on the cat couch like all cats.

Mitzi Rose may be a beautiful Persian cat, but she has more to serve than her appearance.

She is a friendly and affectionate cat who would do very well with (well-behaved) children.

Mitizi Rose is ready for the next step. This pretty girl is ready to leave for her golden basket.

Please know that all Safe Haven Egypt must live as indoor cats. Or need to have a safe complete garden or a catio. There are no 'quiet streets', safe neighborhoods. Mizi Rose lived in safe conditions and it should really remain that way.

Who's going to give her a chance? Is that you? – We would be happy to investigate that. A starting point is to take a look adoption procedure.

If these conditions sound like something to you or you have any questions... Please do not hesitate to contact us. We will assist you as quickly as possible with all kinds of pleasure.

Not actually looking for a cat right now? Understandable. It must fit your situation. Not an impulse decision. But maybe you know someone in your area who is looking for a boyfriend? – Sharing is caring!