Iraq's First 'Cat Hotel' Opens in Basra

With a passion for animals since childhood, 22-year-old veterinary medicine student Ahmed Taher Maki turns part of his house into a what he says is the first hotel for cats in Iraq

"It has always been a hobby since I was a child and I further developed it when I studied veterinary medicine and started to deal directly with cats and other domesticated animals. I loved the job."

"The idea of the hotel is to meet the needs of those who adopt cats in Basra in cooperation with veterinary clinics who ask for a shelter to accommodate sick animals or in case of travelling."

"All these VIP services are offered at a very cheap price and this is very unique and happens for the first time in Iraq. I do not care about financial costs as much as I care about adopting animals in Basra."

The two-room hotel offers comfortable beds, healthy food choices, a mini playground, bathing and air-conditioning for the lucky cats.

 The hotel can accommodate up to 30 cats at a time

A one-night stay at the hotel costs between 5000 to 7000 Iraqi dinars ($4.2 to $5.9), which goes down to 2500 dinars in case the pets stay for more nights

 

One of the rooms is an emergency ward where sick pets are clinically examined by veterinary physicians

Maki says he aims to encourage people to adopt cats by offering proper dietary counselling, health services as well as a safe shelter for the animals when their owners travel.