Join in on the PAWS: Creating a Purr-fect World for Cats

Abandoned, malnourished, traumatized. These are the words that describe the 200,000 stray cats in Seoul that have been ousted from their homes. Despite the existence of ‘cat moms’– a group of people who offer food and shelter to abandoned cats– the majority of these animals spend their days scavenging for scraps. Stray cats are different from the ones who were born and raised in the wild - they were once adopted into a family, but are no longer welcomed.

Fortunately, PAWS is here to help. Formerly known as Nabiya, PAWS is an SFS club that has been promoting cat welfare in Korea for over six years. In an effort to aid the local cat community, PAWS has recently focused on their partnership with Shiloh’s Sanctuary, a non-profit organization located close to the SFS campus. The sanctuary “is really close to school, and [we] wanted to focus on the community,” says Yeji Chon, the president of PAWS.

Shiloh’s Sanctuary has been active since 2012, helping specifically elderly cats in need of medical treatment. The sanctuary’s cats are not up for adoption, making the place their final home.

The sanctuary transformed a small apartment house into a cozy space for twenty cats. The kitchen cabinets are filled with cat food and medicine, and the homestay is no short of toys for cats to play around with.The cats can also spend time laying on the comfortable couches that line the sitting room.

“Last year was really exciting because a lot of the members had not been to a cat shelter or had volunteered” before, says Nayoon Cha-Ryu, the club secretary. Members who have been in PAWS for several years have formed friendships with the cats on a personal level. “Unlike other shelters, [the cats] live there for the rest of their lives, so we are able to create this bond” with the cats, says Taryn Kim, vice president of PAWS.

It takes a lot of work to sustain such a lovely place. The sanctuary often faces shortages of sanitary wipes and gloves. Financial challenges are also a major issue. Medical fees, treats for the cats, and furniture replacement are all things that money is used for. Sometimes, without enough donations raised, a cat that needs help cannot receive medical treatment because there is not enough money raised.

While joining the club will give opportunities to more hands-on ways to help out, students with not enough time can contribute in other ways as well. Every year, PAWS holds fundraisers to support Shiloh’s Sanctuary and their cats. “Last year we raised one million Won for the sanctuary at the Christmas Bazaar,” says Taryn Kim. The Bazaar fundraiser is one of the main events that PAWS hosts, and is a great place to start with donations. Ms. Gilmore, one of the club advisors, “takes in a lot of the cats from the shelter,” adds Taryn. “For example, the shelters would release all female cats unnourished into the wild, so she would just take them all in. Now she has too many cats.” Ms. Gilmore is currently looking for people who can welcome these cats into a new family. “We want to encourage anyone interested or able to foster cats to reach out to any of [the executives],” adds Zen Lam, treasurer of the club.

It’s never too late to join in on the cause. Rather, more help is always welcome in the community. With your help, it’s definitely PAWS-ible to make this world a better place for cats.