PURR-SUITS of kitty love

Gushing over an adorable kitty you chanced upon online, in order to thwart away boredom at work? Well, even a million likes on the picture won’t really do the needful — until you do. Or so believes Debadrita Jadhav, 35-year-old social entrepreneur behind Purr-fect Cattery — a cozy abode that offers free shelter to destitute and abandoned stray felines in town, in addition to sterilising them for free.

With this one-of-a-kind venture, by the Precious Paws foundation, all set to throw open its doors on March 5, we get chatty with Debbie, who shares the inside track with us...

“My tryst with setting up something up for helpless kittens arose out of an absolute disgust for the age-old myth about cats being evil omen and negative energy. My in-laws too, though supportive now, threw a fit when I brought home a stray cat the first time. From my own experience, I can say the beliefs have actually only worsened the conditions of cats in general in India. Seeing cats abandoned, being bitten by strays, and even electrocuted by street rogues, the initiative is my way of doing my bit to save the harmless species,” shares Debbie, who is a techie turned entrepreneur.

Enthusing how the idea to offer a safe environment for cats is still catching up, the resident of Kanakapura adds, “If you look at the pet parents in our city, dog shelters and adopters are at a much higher number than cats. Also, a lot of people believe cats aren’t faithful and don’t gel with dogs. Having done my bit for both dogs and cats, I can say with conviction that its a very superficial perception and entirely depends on the way it is brought up. A well-taken care of pet, irrespective of its breed will never leave its owner.”

Clearly, despite choosing day jobs, the engineering graduate asserts her heart called out for animal rescue. “This is probably my first elaborate shelter set-up for cats. But before Purr-fect happened, I ventured out with a veterinary ambulance and clinic too,” says the co-founder of Precious Paws Foundation, a city-based NGO which works for the welfare of stray animals in town.

While a typical day revolves around her cuddly mates, the animal lover enthuses that she’s happy to live a choco-a-bloc schedule. "I’ve always loved the energy and affection I’ve gotten from pets. But when I need to take a break from work, which is very unlikely, I’m street-hopping and exploring different cuisines from different corners! Oh, and I love to catch up on some quality snooze,” she quips.

Revealing how the idea transpired into reality thanks to the help of some good ol’ samaritans of namooru, she adds, “This project is entirely funded by my NGO, the Precious Paws Foundation, and a couple of pet lovers who genuinely went out of their way to contribute towards better living conditions of cats. Since, ours is going to be a 24/7 arrangement, the whole idea is to rush in a rescue kitty into our address at any hour of the day. Leave us in here, and we’ll take care of the rest,” signs off the city lass with a purr-fect plan!