Love for cats comes with responsibility

KUCHING: Loving cats requires daily care and a lifelong commitment to their welfare, said Dayang Norjihan Abang Abdul Rahman Johari.

The daughter of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said owners must provide food, shelter, medical treatment and ongoing care.

“Love for animals must be shown through action, not only when we gather at events like this, but also in our everyday lives,” she said when speaking at the Kuching International Cat Festival 2026 closing ceremony at Kuching Waterfront on Sunday (Oct 4).

Norjihan said her late mother, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, had taught the family compassion through her affection for cats.

She hoped children attending the festival would similarly learn kindness towards animals and the responsibility of caring for them.

“Hopefully, the love we celebrate here will continue to live on after the festival ends, whether in our homes, our communities or through the way we care for animals that depend on us,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) mayor Datuk Hilmy Othman said the festival received about 200 entries from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, the Philippines, China and Vietnam.

“A caring city begins with the everyday actions of its people,” he said.