“Love Is a Universal Need”: Meet the Woman Who Rescued 3,000 Cats in Dubai

Founded by Dina Taji and her Emirati partner, Dubai Street Kitties rescues, rehabilitates, and finds homes for injured and abandoned cats across the UAE. What began with individual rescues has grown into a sanctuary and foster network caring for hundreds of animals, supported by community contributions and profits from Dina’s fitness app. Its work extends beyond emergency care: prospective adopters receive guidance, can try an adoption period, and get support as their cat settles in. We spoke with Dina about that journey — from the first rescue to a lasting home.

— My name is Dina Taji. You might know me from Dubai Street Kitty Sanctuary here in the UAE, where we care for about 650 cats. So far, I’ve rescued around 3,000 cats. I never thought I would become a cat rescuer. It wasn’t something I planned.

When I first moved to the UAE about 20 years ago, you didn’t see cats everywhere. You might find one or two outside a supermarket. Whenever I saw one, I would go inside and buy food. At the time, I couldn’t bring them home, so I would just feed them.

That gradually turned into feeding more cats and setting up feeding stations. Then cats began showing up injured, sick, and suffering. There was no way I could leave them like that.

— What made you decide to create a sanctuary?

— The more involved you become in rescue work, the more you realize how many cats are suffering. People start messaging you and reaching out for help. My friend and I saw how many cats were being abandoned by breeders or by people returning to their home countries. We realized we needed to create a sanctuary for them.

Keeping cats at a veterinary clinic long-term isn’t sustainable. They need somewhere to recover and heal while we work on finding them homes. That’s why we created the sanctuary.

— Is there a particular rescue that has stayed with you?

— There was a severely injured cat whose case has stayed with me. Many people would have looked at how much pain she was in and said, "Just put her to sleep. There’s no hope." But I choose to fight as much as possible to save a cat’s life, because they all deserve that chance. It’s incredible to see how willing they are to fight to stay alive, too.

— What is one of the most challenging rescues you’ve been involved in?

— Someone once sent me a picture of a cat clinging to the top of a highway fence, absolutely terrified of the cars. I saw the picture at around six in the morning. I jumped out of bed and drove straight there. When I arrived, the cat was still in exactly the same position.

— What would you say to someone who wants to adopt but feels unsure about the responsibility?

— So many animals need homes. Shelters are full of dogs and cats, yet people are still buying from pet shops, which only feeds the problem. Some people want to adopt because they want to help, but they hesitate because they’ve never had a pet and don’t know what to do.

That’s where fostering can be a great option. Fostering means caring for an animal for a limited period. You could help a rescuer by taking in a cat that’s ready to leave the vet but has nowhere to go. You might care for that cat for a couple of weeks or a couple of months.

— What does the sanctuary need most?

— Adoption. Finding homes for these cats is our number one priority. If you asked me what we need most right now, that would be my answer.

— If someone visits the sanctuary hoping to foster or adopt, what should they do first?

— Sit down, spend time with the cats, and see which one you connect with. Many people choose a cat based on appearance, age, or gender. But cats are like us: they all have different personalities. You can’t judge that by breed or gender.

— What care do the cats receive before adoption?

— Because we have hundreds of cats, we carry out extensive testing for contagious illnesses. We need to know whether a cat should be isolated and what treatment it needs. The cats also need to be spayed or neutered and vaccinated.

Many of the cats I’ve taken in were critical cases that needed long periods of treatment and recovery. Their veterinary bills can range from 5,000 to 20,000 dirhams. But we don’t expect adopters to pay those bills. Our priority is finding loving homes with people who understand the responsibility and are willing to provide the care and commitment each cat needs.

— Do you charge an adoption fee?

— No, we don’t charge an adoption fee. We show adopters the veterinary invoices, and all our cats are vaccinated, microchipped, and have a pet passport. We don’t accept cash.

If someone would like to support us, we ask for food, litter, medicine, supplements, or other supplies that help sustain the sanctuary. They can also choose to contribute toward a veterinary invoice. There’s no pressure.

— What commitment do you expect from adopters?

— They need to be financially able to care for the cat and understand that this is a lasting responsibility. We don’t want a cat to be rehomed again later or abandoned outside. If adopters leave the country, they need to take their pet with them. We want people who are willing to provide care throughout that animal’s life.

— How does your work as a fitness coach support the sanctuary?

— I've been a health and fitness coach for about 20 years, mainly offering online coaching and fitness classes. I created an app in English and Arabic with hundreds of videos showing women how to perform exercises at home or in the gym, including exercises with dumbbells. I wanted to build a community where like-minded women could connect.

The membership subscriptions go toward supporting the sanctuary. It’s a way to offer something valuable to women. At the same time, it helps animals in need.

— Where can people find the app and follow your other projects?

— The app is called Fitness with Dina. At the time of this interview, it’s on Google Play, and we’re expecting it to launch on the App Store within the next week or so. People can message me with questions.

I’ve also written a children’s book called The Girl with the Cowboy Hat Who Rescues Cats. It tells my story and will be available on Amazon soon. People can follow Dubai Street Kitties on social media for updates about the app and the book.

— What has Phoenix taught you about the animals you rescue?

— When you see Phoenix now, she is the most loving cat. All she wants is to be loved. As soon as you sit down, she slowly comes over, looks at you, and wants to be cuddled.

It’s moments like that that make you realize love isn’t just a human need. It’s a universal need. All they want is to be loved, to feel safe and be cared for.