MSI Press Blog

  Cats and Their People: Stories from Conflict Zones — Lulu and Sharif Sharif introduces himself this way: FROM GAZA, THE LAND OF WAR ; I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CAT NAMED LULU . Sharif is a young man trying to help his family and his "beautiful" dying cat, Lulu, who could live if she can get the medical treatment she needs -- a cost of $106 outstanding (down from $150, thanks to kind donors). He has worked hard to make a life for himself as well. He has received permission to enroll in education in France, but he lacks $450 for the visa. Twitter users have come to Sharif's rescue as he has navigated these problems -- and hopes. Currently, he still needs $556 USD to keep Lulu alive and obtain his visa. From the picture (others show Lulu obviously suffering), Lulu's situation is clearly urgent. Donations are needed very soon to save her. Here is Sharif's story: I am Shreef Al-Jabour, 24 years old, and I live in Gaza under extremely harsh conditions caused by the war. Eve...

   Cats & Their People: Stories from Conflict Zones — Animal Friends Shelter and the Skaik Brothers 🥀🐾 Here is how the Skaik brothers describe their situation and their X presence: "Destroyed shelter. Displaced family. Sharing real moments from Gaza with our rescued cats."  Tamer and Samer Skaik and their families were caring for 50+ cats in a shelter they created when the bombs came to Gaza. They moved the cats when one building was bombed; they live in bombed out buildings and they go to the outside to feed the cats who always come looking for their meals--but they do not always have the means to do so without the help of kind people across the world, supporting them through the Internet and a GoFundMe site.  Their story over the past two years has been one of family and cat population displacement. Through it all, they have maintained the steadfast relief to cats -- and even an occasional dog that comes by. In spite of limited and dwindling resources, t...

Cats & Their People: Stories from Conflict Zones — Luca and Ameen Ameen Aljbour is a pharmacy student in Gaza . He takes care of a cat named Luca. Many times, Luca has run out of food, once running away for two days in search of it. Ameen has shared pictures of her looking at an empty plate. On some occasions, this sweet kitty has gone a short while without food, but inexorably, pennies would again come in, thanks to people on Twitter and from elsewhere donating what they could and retweeting Luca's pictures and needs. We work at keeping Luca alive because as long as she stays alive, hope stays alive. Twitter users have also come to Ameen's rescue as he works his way through his doctor in pharmacy program. Sometimes, he has had to put off an exam for a day because he has not had the fee, but when that information has been shared, again, somehow last-minute donations come in. Currently, he still needs $937 USD to enroll in the next semester (four courses).  Here is Ameen...

  There’s an old bit of cat lore that says a purring cat can help a human heal — that the vibration of a purr can soothe pain, calm the heart, maybe even help bones knit faster. I’ve always filed that under “sweet, probably exaggerated, but not entirely wrong.” And then I broke my ribs. The ER doctor told me six weeks. Jack told me six nights. Every night, he slept on me — all night — warm, heavy, purring into my bones. And somehow, my ribs healed far faster than anyone expected. Maybe it was coincidence. Maybe it was physics. Maybe it was love. But I know this: his presence changed the way my body held pain. I breathed deeper. I slept better. I didn’t brace as much. My nervous system settled because his nervous system was settled on top of mine. And that got me thinking about the reverse . Last night, Tissou had a painful bladder flare — blood, discomfort, restlessness, all the signs that make a cat parent’s heart drop. She was miserable. So she climbed onto me and slept for hours...