Rescue cats await a second chance as adoption inquiries dwindle

For Snow and Mawar, finding a forever home has been a long wait. Despite being surrounded by care and affection at Kolektif Kucing, the two rescued felines have spent more than a year hoping someone will welcome them into their family.

They are not alone. The KL-based fostering initiative has seen a worrying slowdown in adoption inquiries, leaving many of its cats waiting longer than expected for permanent homes.

According to co-founder Khairina Ibrahim, Kolektif Kucing typically receives one or two inquiries a month. Interest, however, dwindled at the end of August into September: no inquiries or meets-and-greets took place, and the group only recently received its first inquiry for October.

More than 15 cats, aged between five months and 10 years, are up for adoption. Previously, a cat would spend about 4.5 months at Kolektif Kucing before finding a new home.

Khairina believes the slowdown could partly be seasonal. “Malaysians in particular tend to refrain from adoption when there’s an upcoming public holiday,” she said.

“That makes sense given that adoption is a commitment, and it’s not ideal to be travelling when there’s a new kitty at home.”

While fewer inquiries in August and September were understandable given the Merdeka and Malaysia Day holidays, the continued lull in October caught the team by surprise.

Khairina said Kolektif Kucing’s more personalised approach may also be a factor. Rather than relying heavily on social media posts to promote individual cats, the group prefers to match potential adopters with suitable animals through physical meet-and-greet sessions.

Its small team also prioritises the day-to-day care of the cats, leaving less time for constant online promotion.

Founded in 2025 by Khairina and her husband, Wan Mohamad Hidayat, Kolektif Kucing operates foster homes in Wangsa Maju and Kampung Attap.

Unlike conventional shelters, the spaces are designed to feel more like homes, allowing rescued cats to socialise, play and become accustomed to living with people.

The group works closely with independent rescuers, offering temporary accommodation and care while the cats wait to be adopted.

Although the slowdown has not significantly disrupted daily operations, Khairina said it has limited Kolektif Kucing’s ability to take in more animals.

“We maintain a waitlist of cats who are waiting for a spot to free up at our space,” she explained. “That means for every cat at Kolektif Kucing who isn’t adopted, there’s one cat spending their days at a caged facility – or worse, still on the streets.”

Even so, she stressed that finding the right home matters more than rushing an adoption. Prospective adopters must first meet the cats, complete a screening form and submit a video tour of their homes.

Successful applicants then go through a trial period before the adoption is finalised, as Kolektif Kucing does not allow on-the-spot adoptions for safety reasons.

To help new owners settle into life with their feline companions, the group has also introduced an educational video series titled “Is My Cat Okay? A Survival Guide for Anxious Cat Parents”.

The team will further co-host a Pawrents Lepak Club on Nov 14, where visitors can take part in interactive activities and learn more about responsible adoption.

While the cats themselves will not be present, the event will give potential adopters a chance to meet the people behind Kolektif Kucing and better understand the process.

For Snow, Mawar and the other cats still waiting, a permanent home would be about more than simply having a roof over their heads: it would mean finally belonging to a family of their own.

Khairina hopes more Malaysians will consider opening their homes to rescued cats, but said the onus will always be on finding the right match rather than the fastest one.

“Our priority is not to get them adopted quickly, but to get them adopted into good homes,” she concluded.

For more information or adoption inquiries, visit Kolektif Kucing’s website or contact them via Instagram.

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