Culture
Wat Phai Lom Launches 'Stray Cat Nursery' to Support Community Welfare
Wat Phai Lom in Nakhon Pathom has established a nursery for stray cats to improve public health and animal welfare, following concerns over unvaccinated animals near a local school.
Phra Khru Palad Sitthiwat, also known as Luang Phi Namfon, the acting abbot of Wat Phai Lom in Nakhon Pathom, has launched a 'Stray Cat Nursery' project. The initiative aims to provide a safe haven for stray cats found within the community, addressing concerns regarding animal health and the risk of rabies transmission to residents and students.
The project began after the abbot discovered dozens of stray cats living behind the Wat Phai Lom School. Concerned that students might be bitten or scratched, he coordinated with the school director, local livestock officials, and the Nakhon Pathom Municipality to safely relocate the animals. A team of volunteers, including veterinarians and animal husbandry experts from the Luang Phor Poon Foundation, successfully sterilized and conducted health check-ups on nearly 20 cats.
For residents and visitors, this initiative highlights a proactive approach to managing stray animal populations in temple areas, which are common sites for abandoned pets in Thailand. The temple intends to prepare these cats for adoption by compassionate individuals. While the initial phase has been completed, the long-term sustainability of the nursery and the total number of cats it can accommodate remain to be confirmed. This effort serves as a model for community-led animal welfare, aiming to reduce the presence of unvaccinated strays in public spaces.