Last Updated on 23 August 2025 by Vanessa
If you love cats and a good story about compassion and courage, you’re going to want to watch this brand-new feature-length documentary called 25 Cats From Qatar. The movie follows an unprecedented cat rescue effort in a country where millions of stray cats struggle to survive. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and eye-opening all at once.
I talked with director Mye Hoang about how this incredible film came to life, the reality of the street cat situation in Qatar, and how YOU can help make a difference.
📍 Stick around until the end of the article because we’re giving away a Blu-ray of 25 Cats From Qatar to one lucky reader!
25 Cats From Qatar: documentary review & interview with director Mye Hoang
The stray cat crisis in Qatar
Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, known for its gleaming skyscrapers, futuristic architecture, and booming economy.
The country’s rapid economic growth has created an enormous demand for labor, from construction workers that build world-class stadiums and luxury hotels to professionals working in finance, hospitality, and tech. These opportunities have drawn people from all over the world, and expats now make up roughly 90% of Qatar’s population.
Many expats adopt stray cats during their time in Qatar. But when their work contracts end, they don’t bring their pets home. Some can’t afford the high costs of international pet relocation. Others simply don’t want the responsibility. And sadly, that means animals are left behind with no survival skills whatsoever.
In the 1960s, cats were intentionally brought into Qatar in large numbers to control the rodent population around markets, construction sites, and urban areas. It worked, but once the rodent problem was under control, the cats were left to fend for themselves. With no natural predators and plenty of food sources around the city’s trash bins, their population began to skyrocket.
Today, there are an estimated three million stray cats in Qatar, and the number keeps growing. There are no major shelters, no widespread community programs, no real government support, and almost no adopters to give these cats a second chance.
From Doha to Milwaukee
25 Cats From Qatar shines a light on a crisis that most of us never knew existed. It’s a wake-up call to the reality that even in the richest of places, there are beings who go unseen and uncared for.
The documentary opens with heartbreaking footage of dozens of cats prowling around garbage bins in Doha, Qatar’s capital. They are skinny and frail, and many of them are sick or injured. Flies circle their matted fur.
A handful of expats have become their unlikely heros. They spend their free time feeding, treating, and rescuing these animals. They’re the one giving antibiotics sick kittens and help them survive.
But their efforts are incredible but can only do so much in a country with over three million stray cats.
Enter Katy McHugh, the owner of Sip & Purr Cat Café in Milwaukee. One day, while scrolling through Facebook, she stumbled upon posts about cats in Qatar desperately in need of homes. Something inside her clicked.
She packed her bags and flew to Qatar to see the situation with her own eyes. She knew she couldn’t save hundreds of cats at once; that just wasn’t possible. So, she came up with a bold but doable plan: rescue 25 cats from Qatar and bring them to America, where they could find loving homes through her cat café.
This mission becomes the heart of the documentary 25 Cats From Qatar. The film follows Katy’s journey, her challenges, and the rescuers who make the impossible happen.
Is 25 Cats From Qatar worth watching?
25 Cats From Qatar is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. You see all the good that comes from compassion, but you also see the harsh reality. It’s impossible not to shed a few tears with this film.
The documentary is also beautifully shot. You get close-up views of the cats that are raw and unfiltered. The camera lingers on their tiny faces in a way that makes you feel like you’re right there with them. In contrast, you see Doha’s skyline with its luxury hotels and futuristic buildings.
What stands out, however, is how much this film makes you think and how much it makes you care. It’s not just about the stray cat issue in Qatar; it’s about stray cats everywhere. The film makes you ask, “What can I do to help?” Maybe you can’t save 25 cats, but you can help one. You can spread awareness, ask for help, donate to rescue groups, or adopt or foster a stray or shelter cat that needs a home.
25 Cats From Qatar makes you think twice before giving up on a pet, and it shows that even small acts of kindness can save lives.
Interview with director Mye Hoang
How did the idea for 25 Cats From Qatar first come to you? What was the moment when you said, “I need to make this film”?
During the tour of my previous film, Cat Daddies, I visited Sip & Purr Cat Café in Milwaukee. That’s where I met the owner, Katy McHugh. There were a few cats from Qatar there for adoption. Katy told me about her international cat rescue efforts in the Middle East. I admired the work, but I also wondered—why go to such lengths? Why fly cats 7,000 miles to find homes?
I didn’t understand why there was no adoption culture in places like Qatar, Dubai, and Cairo, etc. Hearing her many stories of navigating in these countries felt cinematic to me, and it was a subject I think few people here in America know about.
How did you meet the rescuers in Doha, and what were your first encounters like?
When Katy and I decided to embark on this documentary, she connected me to the rescuers in Doha she planned to work with. We gave them a link to Cat Daddies to see if they’d be okay with being in this new film project. Most did not hesitate, and we met over Zoom a few weeks before the rescue mission. They were humble and grateful. But I didn’t feel like I knew much about them until we were there on the ground in person.
Was there a particular cat that deeply moved you and shaped the direction of the film?
Every cat was amazing, and there were so many heartbreaking stories. But Manu was a bit of a miracle cat. Manu survived on the streets despite having FIV and a missing foot. He hopped across busy roads just to find food. Rescuers brought him inside just days before we arrived. That timing probably saved his life.
He was super friendly and chatty. Someone had ear-tipped him, so at some point he’d been trapped, neutered, and returned. He also looked just like my cat at home, Creamsicle, so I felt a personal connection. I couldn’t imagine leaving him behind.
How serious is the stray cat issue in Qatar? What surprised you most?
In pure numbers, we have a much bigger feral cat problem in the United States. The difference is that Qatar is a tiny country, and the cats are about to outnumber the human population.
Also, about 90% of the population are expats who don’t stay long-term—so hardly anyone adopts pets. There is just nowhere for them to go because no one is there to settle down. The cats are often just seen as a nuisance.
On top of that, the climate in the Gulf region is brutal. Summers hit 120°F. It’s the desert, so there’s nothing to hunt. These cats rely completely on humans for food and water.
The cinematography is beautiful. What gear did you use to film cats in such challenging environments?
We knew we’d be filming mostly at night, so we chose a camera that performs well in low light and extreme heat. We didn’t bring lights, and we solely worked with whatever was available, like street lamps and car headlights.
How much of the documentary was planned versus what happened in the moment?
Based on Katy’s past rescue experiences in other countries, I outlined the film to raise funding. I knew there would be some surprises—that always happens. But at least I knew what to expect. I think it mostly followed the direction I predicted, with a few challenges near the end.
Did you run into issues filming in public spaces in Qatar?
Not really. We filmed during the low tourist season, and the heat kept most people indoors. That gave us more freedom to move around. We also kept the crew small on purpose, which helped us avoid attention.
What was the toughest part of the shoot?
The biggest challenge was time. We had only four days in Doha. That’s not much when you’re filming rescues, scouting locations, and helping prep cats for travel. We barely saw cats during the day because they hide from the sun. That means we had to film them late at night. It was still hot and humid, but at least the sun wasn’t beating us down. The climate there is so brutal. I don’t know how people live in that kind of heat—let alone stray cats.
For people who want to help after seeing the film, what’s the best way to get involved?
Start by spreading the word. Share our website, the trailer, and our social media pages. The more people who learn about the situation, the more support we can build.
Once you’ve seen the film, you’ll understand the bigger picture—and you might want to help more directly. We’ve added links on our website where people can learn how to become a flight buddy or help with vet bills. The rescuers can’t accept donations directly, but I help facilitate paying down their high veterinary debt.
What if someone wants to adopt a cat from Qatar?
I’m happy to connect potential adopters with rescuers in Qatar. However, it’s also worth noting that there are cats in Kuwait, Oman, and Dubai facing the same challenges. Many of them end up in rescues and cat cafés around the world.
You can find these groups easily on social media, but I do recommend vetting them and checking references first.
Selecting the right cat for your home should be a careful process, and a cat from your local shelter just might be the best fit for you.
25 Cats From Qatar movie trailer
Where to watch 25 Cats from Qatar?
The DVD and Blu-ray of 25 Cats From Qatar are now available for pre-order on Amazon. Be among the first to own and watch this inspiring documentary!
25 Cats from Qatar Blu-ray features:
- Aspect ratio: 2.0:1
- Language: English, some Urdu
- Subtitles: English closed captions
- Runtime: 95 Minutes
- Region: ALL
- Age Rating: 13+
Conclusion
If this story pulled on your heartstrings (and how could it not?), let’s do something about it together. The stray cats in Qatar (and elsewhere in the world) need our voices now more than ever. Share this article with your friends, post about the movie 25 Cats From Qatar on social media, and help spread the word about these incredible rescuers who are making a difference one cat at a time. Every share counts. Every conversation matters.
Now, I’d love to hear from YOU:
Have you ever rescued an animal or adopted a pet from a shelter? Where from? How did you name your cat?
If you could help one of these cats, what would you do first—donate, adopt, or volunteer?
Let me know in the comments! Your stories might inspire someone else to take action too.
Win a Blu-ray of 25 Cats From Qatar!
Because we love this film so much, we’re giving one lucky reader a Blu-ray copy of 25 Cats From Qatar, courtesy of Whole Grain Pictures. To enter, fill in the Rafflecopter below. There are several entry options, so a lot of chances to win. The giveaway is open worldwide and ends August 31.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on the Amazon links, Traveling Cats will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Pin these 25 Cats From Qatar movie posters!
By the way, my own cat book, Avalon: A Heartwarming True Cat Story, is just $0.99 on Kindle this week on Amazon US. If you’ve been thinking about giving it a try, now’s the perfect time. You can also read it for free on Kindle Unlimited. Avalon scared off dates and made the landlord demand his removal, but he also evolved into a loving companion… and even landed a starring role in a horror movie.
3 responses
The story behind 25 Cats from Qatar is quite inspiring–definitely has piqued my interest to watch the documentary.
I did not know stray cats were such an issue in Qatar! Hopefully this movie brings more awareness to this issue!
It’s the same story in Dubai I’m afraid, people just buy pets, like they buy their furniture, then leave it behind when they go, sadly it’s not down to costs, just convenience. Thanks for joining in with #pocolo