I wouldn’t have realised the extent of this burden of responsibility if I hadn’t met my colleague Atquia Amin, a cat mum with twenty kittens

Since today is National Pet Day, I had to interview her for a fun little trip to the ‘furdom’ and to get an understanding of what goes behind petting cats.

Atquia’s journey of raising a cat began in February 2017. One day, her brother bought a kitten and brought it home. At first, her parents never allowed her to keep pets at home. But when she heard that her brother had brought it and planned to keep it in his bedroom, they did not object much. The kitten was very small and extremely cute. This is how her journey of raising cats started back in 2017.

Speaking about her childhood, she says, “Since childhood, I have always found animals and birds very adorable. I felt a strong sense of affection for them. Although I was a bit afraid to touch them, I still felt like going up and showing them some love whenever I saw one.”

Starting with one cat, Atquia’s journey with cats started to rise gradually as new kittens were born. “At first, we had only one male cat. He was alone, and we felt like he needed a companion. So, we brought a female cat for him and named her ‘Tuny’. Then, from that moment, the journey from having just one cat to eventually having twenty cats has begun.

Whenever the kittens were born, we could not let them go. We became too devoted and end up loving and caring for them even more. So gradually, our one cat has turned into many, and all of us in the family take care of them and shower them with affection,” mentioned Atquia.

Life with 20 cats

Atquia says, “On a typical day, for those of us who have cats whether you call us cat owners, cat mums, or cat lovers, our day usually starts with them.”

She further elaborated, “In the morning, as soon as we wake up, even before thinking about our own breakfast, we think about what they will eat and what we should feed them. We prepare their food, serve it to them, and clean their litter box to ensure proper hygiene.

We also clean their space so that everything stays neat and healthy. After that, we spend some time with them, playing and bonding. They cannot speak, but we still talk to them like humans and try to communicate in our own way. Honestly, spending time with cats is never boring. It is more like quality time that brings comfort and joy.”

For Atquia and family, the day begins and ends with these cats. In between, they need to balance work, personal life, and other responsibilities. They try to take some extra time for the cats, giving them proper care and attention.

Sometimes, this means waking up a little earlier than usual, so they can provide the cats with proper treatment and care in the morning. At night, they often spend another hour with them before going to sleep, giving them some time and attention.

Atquia notes, “Generally, cats have very few expectations from us personally. They do not demand much; they just want a little affection and care from the person who takes care of them.”

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Some might think all the cats have similar personalities. However, every cat has a different personality. For instance, some cats are very responsive, while others are more introverted.

“There are some who stay with me and other family members all day, cuddle, play, and seek attention. On the other hand, some do not like coming close or being touched. They prefer to stay on their own, mind their own business, and sleep most of the time though every cat in our home is loved and adored by each member of the family, and it is always a difficult job to choose which one is our favourite,” mentioned Atquia, speaking of her cats’ personalities.

Taking care of twenty cats alone can be rewarding, but it is truly a serious full-time responsibility and the challenges are incomparable. Despite many challenges, it feels easier for Atquia as her family members share the responsibility with her and look after them together.

Maintaining the diet of the cats can be quite challenging as well. Atquia shared, “Like humans, they need a properly maintained diet. We have to make sure they are getting all the necessary nutrients, and we need to monitor them around the clock to check if they are active and healthy.

That’s why we regularly feed them boiled chicken, prepared with very minimal spices—just a little salt and a bit of turmeric. We also make sure they always have clean, fresh water available 24/7 so they can stay hydrated.

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We usually feed the cats their main meals twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Once we started this routine, the cats automatically began to keep track of the timing themselves. All of them come to eat at those specific times. We serve their food in a fixed place, and after eating, they go off on their own.”

As for the cleanliness of the cats, they naturally prefer to stay in clean and tidy places, for Atquia always tries to keep their areas clean and disinfected, so they remain healthy and proper hygiene is maintained in the house as well.

Cat care

Cat care can mainly be divided into three sections: medical vaccination, and emergency care. Medical care is usually done on a monthly or yearly basis. Firstly, on a monthly level, cats need deworming, checking for fleas and ticks, and observing whether there are any unusual changes in their body. It is also important to do a basic full-body health check regularly.

Besides, vaccination is very important. Kittens should be vaccinated at around three months of age. If they are not vaccinated, they can easily catch infections like flu, which can sometimes become severe and even life-threatening.

Thirdly, like humans, cats can also face different kinds of emergency issues. For example, sometimes they may stop eating, experience vomiting, diarrhoea, catch a cold, or suffer injuries. In such cases, it is important to be prepared for emergencies at home. At home, we should keep basic emergency supplies such as gauze, syringes, saline, and necessary antibiotics. These should be organised as part of a separate emergency first aid kit.

If needed, the cat owner must be ready to take the cat to a vet. It is important to keep the contact of an emergency veterinarian nearby, so that we can reach them quickly whenever required.

Atquia shared, “Not only cats, but any pet requires a monthly expense. However, we have not faced any financial problems so far for managing their treatment costs. Since we share the expenses among all family members, it becomes much easier to handle.”

The reality check

Atquia shares, “People who have different kinds of pets often face criticism or discouragement from various beliefs and opinions, and I am no exception. We also regularly face different kinds of criticism and discouragement.

For example, some people say that keeping so many cats at home is not good, that the house will become unclean, or that guests won’t want to visit and may feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, we do not even get a helping hand. There are many remarks like ‘the cats will cause you trouble.’ In these situations, we have to accept things and stay positive on our own.”

In Atquia’s home, she has many rescued cats. Most of them were rescued from different situations. Atquia recalls, “I remember one particular incident during the 2020 pandemic lockdown. My brother noticed that a mother cat had an accident near our house. There were three tiny kittens struggling on their own.

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At that moment, without thinking twice, he grabbed a box, carefully placed the three kittens inside, and brought them home. This is how the journey of some of our cats began. We could not manage to capture one of the kittens on camera, but the other two we recorded and raised. Now, they all live safely in our home.”

She shares, “Therefore, adopting a cat creates a sense of responsibility: if I bring this cat home, I will take care of it. They can be raised and trained in their own way. People should not have the misconception that stray or rescued cats are not good. In addition, it is not necessary to always bring every stray cat into the house.

Many times, stray cats can be helped in different ways even while staying outside. For example, if a stray cat regularly comes to a certain spot, we can go there and provide food, care, or treatment. If they need extra care or medical attention, we can arrange that as well, without bringing them into the home.”

Atquia says that many people have many weaknesses, but her weakness is her cats. She expresses, “They have the power to change a person both internally and externally. They teach a person how to love without words, how to take responsibility, show kindness, and how to be accountable.”

Lastly, she was asked what her cats would probably tell her if they could speak. She replied, “If my cats could speak, I think they would say something like this: I love it when you pet me slowly… and scratch behind my ears… okay, keep doing that forever, please. You’re my favourite human, don’t tell the others.”