About | 25 Cats From Qatar

Black Stray Cat in the Souq Waqif alley_by Patrick Ouziel.jpg

Director's Note

When I was touring with my previous documentary Cat Daddies, I met a cat cafe owner in Milwaukee and learned about her international rescue work. As a lifelong cat owner, I was aware of the efforts to help pets from abroad find homes in the US – some came from conflict areas or natural disasters. But moving cats 7,000 miles seemed extreme.

This curiosity set me on my new film 25 CATS FROM QATAR, to discover the country and its culture, and why animal rescuers there have reached a breaking point. They are literally unable to solicit support from within and feel they have no choice but to turn outside, to the UK and US.

To immerse the audience, I focused on all the nuts and bolts of this unsanctioned rescue mission that rapidly unfolded in 4 days. I knew that witnessing the tedious preparation and the selection process of 25 cats in all its totality would be ultimately moving. Being able to document this grand act of love for cats has been a truly rewarding experience that I hope will inspire audiences worldwide.

Synopsis

Qatar is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, and its rapid growth is powered by migrant workers who make 89% of the population. But underneath the luxurious surface lies an overwhelming street cat population where disease is rampant, the heat is extreme, and expats are burdened to help the struggling felines.

When an American flight attendant and cat cafe owner becomes aware of the crisis, she hatches a plan to fly 25 cats to Milwaukee, where her cat cafe provides a pipeline for adoption.

Presenting a microcosm of a global crisis, the film asks searching questions about animal welfare, all within a ticking-clock narrative about the nuts and bolts of a rescue mission. It is both an urgent wake-up call and a heartwarming story of overcoming international barriers for a common goal.