Happy Cats is a one woman run Charity in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It cares for and shelters domesticated cats who have been abandoned by their owners on the street.

Feruza, the owner self funds the operation with earrings from her primary occupation as a school teacher. Having worked for many years in large shelters in Tashkent, she was determined to reimagine a more integrated and natural environment for cats to thrive and recover, as often cats in overcrowded shelters suffer from stress induced illnesses.

After 2 years of meticulous planning, the shelter has been up and running well for the past 2 years, receiving recognition on their Instagram account ‘@happycats_uz’, and news coverage. There are currently 35 cats at the shelter, with 8 cats having found living homes since the charity’s inception, and hopefully many more to follow.

Despite the immensely positively impact that Happy Cats is having, donations and visits to the cafe style sanctuary from locals are few and far between. As mentioned in the interview, many Uzbek people don’t appreciate and care for cats in the way that many Europeans and Americans do. So, with no support from government or local funding power, along with limited sponsors due to the strenuous financial position of many Uzbek people, the charity is currently facing great hardships.

The owner Feruza donates so much time and money of her own into the charity, but the well is only so deep. With next months rent due imminently and an increasing vet debt for looking after these animals Happy Cats needs help and fast.

That’s where I come in. Having met with the owner and spent a great deal of time discussing this, with great, unnecessary, embarrassment Feruza has agreed to let me call upon an overseas audience for support in this difficult time. It’s not right that one great inspirational woman should have to do this all alone, selling possessions like jewellery and even her car to keep the cats fed and health.

Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. 100% of the fundraiser proceeds will go to Happy Cats. If you haven’t it would mean a lot to us both if you could watch the interview attached to learn some more about the charity and treatment of cats in Uzbekistan. All receipts of international fund transfers to Happy Cats and inflows and outflows will be shared on my Instagram page @rhysgoeseast.

Thank you !