Kidz 4 Katz ?
Kidz 4 Katz
Felinus International vzw (a Belgian not-for-profit organisation and a member club of The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc.) works together with Dobrokit (an NGO in Cherkasy, Ukraine) and Vetexpert (a chain of veterinarian clinics in Cherkasy, Ukraine) to save, rescue and help abandoned and wounded cats, victims of the war in the Ukraine.
War in the Ukraine
Since the beginning of the full scale invasion of the Ukraine in February 2022, many families had to escape from their homes and took refuge in safer places, inside and outside of the Ukraine. Many cats were abandoned or escaped when entire cities were reduced to rubble.
Ukrainian refugees
An estimate of 6.9 million refugees from the Ukraine have been recorded globally as of February 2025 and there are another 3.7 million internally displaced people within the Ukraine. Many of them can never return home because their houses and apartments have been completely destroyed.
War trauma's
Husbands and fathers had to stay in the Ukraine to defend their country.
A whole generation of Ukrainian children is "damaged" by this brutal war.
Many families had to leave their pets behind when they ran for safety.
1500 cats and more to come..
Together with Dobrokit and Vetexpert, we try to save as many abandoned and wounded cats as possible. They all get a veterinary screening, medical treatment and, if necessary, veterinary surgery before we place them in a new, loving family.
Cats that cannot be evacuated or placed are provided with healthcare, shelter and food.
So far, we have helped more than 1.500 cats.
Ukrainian kids make drawings to help the cats
This war has traumatised millions of Ukrainian children.
We bring some of them together in a creative, loving and positive environment with our rescued cats that they can play with. This interaction seems to be very therapeutic and it brings smiles to their faces.
Under the guidance of an artist and the encouragement from the cats, they make the most beautiful cat drawings.
These wonderful kids and their parents agree to donate their drawings to us, so that we can rescue and help more cats in their name.
THE story of Maya !
“My name is Maya; I am 16 years old. At the drawing event, I drew a gray cat with a scarf on his head with red embroidery. When I went to this event, I knew that the drawings would be used to save cats.
Saving cats is very important to me, because in this time of war, I feel sorry for the furries. When I was drawing, I felt calm. While we were making our drawings, rescued cats kept us company. They evoke only positive emotions.
All the kids that participated in this drawing event, were asked which present would make us happy. These days, I read a lot. I really like modern teenage novels. It helps me to distract from the stress and horror of the war. So, I asked for my present the book "Chess and Checkmate" because I wanted it for a long time.
I hope we can do these drawing events again. I would gladly take part in this project again, especially since it can help raise funds for the rescue of more poor animals.
I have a cat and a dog who left Mariupol with me, my mother and my sister at the beginning of the war. I am very sad to say that my home is gone, completely destroyed. I still have the keys of our apartment that I keep in a photo frame. I also have some old photos that I received from my babushka (grandmother). Only a few, but these are the only photos of me when I was young. All our photo albums got burned together with the apartment in the beginning of March 2022, when the invaders completely destroyed my hometown.
My father is at the war front. In the last 9 months, I saw him only one day and I miss him incredibly. He says that many animals are still left on the front line. They come to our soldiers, hoping to be saved. Many cats and dogs live with them and they try to help them and escape from the war.
My greatest desire is Victory. Peace for our wonderful country. Because people and animals should not die in the 21st century.
My most cherished dream is to return to my native Ukrainian Mariupol.”