The loyal and dedicated members of the cat patrol

It's almost impossible to know how many cats there are in China as there are so many strays living a miserable existence in which they face not only natural threats, but also the darker side of humanity.

Fortunately, although China has no regime to protect animals such as stray cats and dogs, there are many good-hearted people who care about their well-being.

Yang Jie, 30, says when Beijing's residential bungalows were torn down at the beginning of the 21st century and most people moved into high-rises, may cats were abandoned by their owners.

"When I was little, almost every family had a cat," she says. "They were kept with relatively few restrictions, allowed to run free. I almost never saw a stray cat.

"But when people moved into high-rises they no longer wanted to keep cats, so they were abandoned in the streets."

Cats at that time were not treated as pets. Rather, their job was to catch mice, just as dogs were supposed to act as guards. Cat owners failed to neuter their cats, so after they were deserted, many more kittens were born soon after.

"That may be why there are so many stray cats now," Yang says.

Eight years ago, when she was about to graduate from university, she decided to take home the "poor deaf cat" she often fed at school.

Since then, she's collected seven grownup cats in her parents' home and a blind kitten she temporarily keeps in a neighbor's empty apartment.

"Apart from the first cat and her two kittens, the other four were picked up on the street. They all have physical problems, and no one wants a disabled cat, so we look after them."

In addition to the eight cats, Yang cares for 40 strays that wander her neighborhood.

She gets up at 5 am, tends to the cats at home and then goes to feed the strays at 6 am. They wait for her come rain, shine or freezing cold, she says.

"Originally, I fed them at 7, but a lot of people are driving their children to school then, and it's easy for hungry cats that are scurrying around to be hit by cars."

After seeing that happen twice, she decided to change the feeding time. "I was so devastated seeing a cat run over that I couldn't work that day," she recalls, sobbing. "Such a lovely animal died simply because drivers don't slow down, even in a residential area."

Yang has made it her mission to find people to adopt the cats. Over the past few months, she has found homes in Beijing for 40 kittens. She closely questions those applying to take the cats to ensure they go to a good home, and she's willing to drive great distances if she finds someone who may be suitable.

"I want to visit the adopter's home to see what the living conditions are like," she says.

Lu, nicknamed Maolaolao, 52, of Beijing, has been helping to care for stray cats for 15 years. She is publicity shy, fearing the better known she becomes the heavier her workload will become.

"Over the past 15 years, I've not taken one single day off from feeding these strays," she says. "I have to go because they are waiting for me. If I didn't turn up the cats would take refuge somewhere and wait until I finally did.

"These days, stray cats can't find much food in rubbish bins because of garbage classification. All the bins have a lid, and waste is packed in plastic bags. Now, people cook little food, and not much goes into the waste. If I don't feed the cats they will starve to death."

Each month, she says, she spends her entire pension as well as the donations she receives from benefactors on the cats. Cat food alone costs her 7,000 to 8,000 yuan ($1,050 to $1,200; 940 to 1,070 euros).

However, Lu says she dislikes asking for charity, as she fears people will turn her away.

"There are many who really dislike people like us. If we raise money to help animals, they will say, 'You people spend the day pleading for help for stray cats and dogs, but you are the ones who need help.' As if there is something to be ashamed of in what we do."

Despite her reticence about asking for help, if the cats fall ill, expenses can be extremely high, and Lu feels she has no choice but to seek donations.

Her mother and elder sister have told her they dislike what she does, but she is resolved to carry on. "Retired people like me will eat whatever they want to eat, travel to wherever they want, and enjoy their lives. But I have to live frugally to save money for these cats and dogs.

"Sometimes, I feel really bad, but thinking of their poor situation, I can't stop feeding them. I'll continue to try my best to help them until the day when I can't do it anymore."

There have been several high-profile cases of dogs and cats being mistreated in China recently.

"The government needs to pass laws to protect these small, helpless animals," Lu says.

Yang adds: "All lives are equal. If you don't love them, at least don't hurt them."

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/19/2016 page16)