about
OUR FOUNDER IS A CAT LADY
The transformation of Dr. Shubhalaxmi, known as the Moth or Bug Lady, into the Cat Lady began in July 2018 when Tom, the first stray cat, entered her life. Tom paved the way for others, including Brownie, his pregnant girlfriend who arrived during the pandemic lockdown in March 2020, giving birth to Soni and Moni. These four cats transformed the atmosphere of her home during lockdown.
In October 2020, a robust ginger cat sought shelter from the rain and decided to stay. Around the same time, Dr. Shubha rescued injured Hero after seeing a post on Facebook. His rescue and recovery marked a turning point, prompting her to delve into cat care, medical treatment, diet, and behavior. Until Hero's rescue, she had been funding all expenses herself, but thereafter, she formalized StrayiCare with support from the iNaturewatch Foundation to cover rescue costs.
In March 2021, Prince, a stray kitten, was rescued, followed by Spotty in July 2021, who was adopted too. By March 2022, Dr. Shubha had relocated from Kharghar to Karjat, bringing along her five cats: Tom, Hero, Prince, Spotty, and Moni. Throughout these changes, she continued her animal welfare work through her foundation.
In December 2022, Dr. Shubha rescued an abandoned, sick black kitten named Onyx from a neighboring village. Tragically, Onyx imprinted on her deeply but met with a fatal accident while hiding under her car. This loss deeply affected her, leading her to rescue two more kittens, Onyx and Shadow, to fill the void. They joined her growing cat family at her bungalow.
Hope, originally intended as a temporary rescue supported by her foundation in May 2023 due to his spine injury and disability, remained with her as no suitable adopters came forward. Soon after, Moti, a village tomcat, also became part of her family against her initial plans.
Through caring for these cats as each of them were sterilized and vaccinated, Dr. Shubha inadvertently embraced the title of Cat Lady, a journey marked by compassion and dedication to her feline companions.
RESCUES WHO ARE NOW PETS
TOM - first stray
hero- the koliwada cat
moni- lockdown baby
On a rainy day, a young adult stray cat named Tom found his way into Dr. Shubha’s home in Kharghar and decided to stay forever. As her first stray cat and pet, Tom profoundly transformed Dr. Shubha’s life, inspiring the creation of StrayiCare.
moni- lockdown baby
hero- the koliwada cat
moni- lockdown baby
Moni and her sibling Soni were born at Dr. Shubha's home during the lockdown. Their mother, Brownie, chose her place to give birth. Sadly, six months later, both Brownie and Soni left the home. They keep visiting her occasionally.
hero- the koliwada cat
hero- the koliwada cat
hero- the koliwada cat
Dr. Shubha discovered Hero from a Facebook post showing him with a severe neck wound. She promptly rescued him from Koliwada and nursed him back to good health over the course of nearly a year.
spotty- kharghar cat
shadow and onyx- andheri-jogeshwari cats
hero- the koliwada cat
Spotty was a kitten found wandering near Dr. Shubha's building on a rainy day. With no sign of her mother, she was adopted and has been with Dr. Shubha ever since.
hope- koperkharaine cat
shadow and onyx- andheri-jogeshwari cats
shadow and onyx- andheri-jogeshwari cats
A passerby found Hope lifeless at Koperkharaine railway station, fed him, and placed him in a nearby garden. After seeing a Facebook post, Dr. Shubha rescued and treated his spine and neck injuries. Now, after a year of care, Hope hops like a rabbit.
shadow and onyx- andheri-jogeshwari cats
shadow and onyx- andheri-jogeshwari cats
shadow and onyx- andheri-jogeshwari cats
Onyx and Shadow were rescued a month apart from the streets of Jogeshwari and Andheri when they were just two months old. Their adoption posts appeared on Facebook. After losing a black kitten she had rescued from Jamrung village, Dr. Shubha adopted both Onyx and Shadow to help fill the void left by her lost kitten.
soni- KHARGHAR OFFICE PET
chintu- kharghar OFFICE PET
chintu- kharghar OFFICE PET
Soni, a stray frequently seen at the Kharghar office for food, was often pregnant. To prevent future pregnancies, she was spayed, and after the procedure, she decided to stay at the office, becoming a permanent resident.
chintu- kharghar OFFICE PET
chintu- kharghar OFFICE PET
chintu- kharghar OFFICE PET
Chintu entered Dr. Shubha's life as she was relocating from Kharghar to Karjat. Appearing to be an abandoned pet she had been feeding, he was cared for by her office staff after her move, making him the permanent office pet.
moti - jamrung cat
chintu- kharghar OFFICE PET
prince- little tiger
Moti, originally from Jamrung village, came into Dr. Shubha's life when she relocated there. Despite initially feeding him, Moti showed a desire for a permanent home and refused to leave. Reluctantly, Dr. Shubha ended up adopting him.
prince- little tiger
tim- the only ginger cat
prince- little tiger
Prince, a stray kitten only two months old, caught Dr. Shubha's attention as he wandered the streets in search of food. She initially provided him with food and shelter, but recognizing his need for a permanent home, she decided to adopt him. His distinctive features and markings earned him the nickname "little tiger."
tim- the only ginger cat
tim- the only ginger cat
tim- the only ginger cat
Tim arrived unexpectedly one October evening, appearing abandoned and large in size. Despite his hearty appetite and gentle demeanor, being a senior cat made others cautious around him. Dr. Shubha sought to find him a home and eventually connected him with a family eager to adopt a senior cat.
brownie- lockdown mom
tim- the only ginger cat
tim- the only ginger cat
Brownie gave birth to two kittens during the lockdown. While her babies received care, she left the home after raising them for six months. She continued to visit for feeding purposes but eventually stopped coming. She being still missed by Dr. Shubha