Retired Heroine from Osijek Saves Hundreds of Abandoned Cats
Mandica Tomašević and her volunteers care daily for Osijek's 'invisible cats,' providing them with shelter, veterinary care, and a new lease on life.
Mandica Tomašević and her volunteers care daily for Osijek's 'invisible cats,' providing them with shelter, veterinary care, and a new lease on life.
Mrs. Mandica Tomašević from Osijek has dedicated her retirement years to those who cannot help themselves, abandoned cats. Ten years ago, together with two friends, she founded the 'Mandica Association,' which has since become a sanctuary for hundreds of street cats in this Slavonian city.
The association currently cares for about a hundred cats, many of which are recovering in a specially equipped space. Mandica Tomašević, the founder and president of the association, explains how vital their work is. "We care for nobody's cats, the invisible cats of our city, because there is no one else to look after them. There is no one to pay the vet for them," Tomašević told HRT Magazine.
That is precisely why the association also runs a small cat hospital, where four-legged patients receive all necessary therapy. For the safety of both animals and people, recovery takes place under controlled conditions. "We keep the cats in cages; they must be in cages during recovery. These are unsocialized cats, semi-feral or feral, that scratch. To receive therapy, they must be kept safe," added Tomašević.
Once the cats recover and become socialized, the volunteers diligently seek permanent homes for them. They particularly emphasize the advantages of adopting adult cats over kittens. Astrid Iris Benić, a volunteer, points out a common issue they encounter. "You don't have to worry about them as much; you can go to work. The main goal isn't to raise a kitten, and people often take kittens because they're small and cute, only to return them to the association when they realize that they actually require much more care than an adult cat," Benić stressed.
In addition to rescuing and adopting out cats, they place great emphasis on prevention. Spaying is one of the most important steps in their work. "By doing this, we reduce the risk of disease and the risk of abandoned kittens, which very often do not survive," said volunteer Danijela Varga.
Caring for a hundred cats requires a great deal of effort and dedication. Ivana Majksner, another volunteer, describes the daily routine, which involves much more than just feeding. "You have to feed them, then clean their litter boxes and living space, and finally give them some cuddles and lots of love," Majksner said.
For Mandica and her team of volunteers, this effort is not burdensome. Their mission is clear, to extend the famous nine lives of cats by one more, the most valuable one, filled with care and attention.
