The heartwarming project that brought smiles to the cats of the Gaza Envelope

Maya Dotan has lived with cats for as long as she can remember: "Since I was a little girl, there were always cats around," Maya recalls. "My parents didn’t really have a choice, and later neither did my husband and our kids, who grew up in Netiv HaAsara surrounded by cats. It was always part of the package," she recalls with a smile.

The pastoral life in the moshav was all she knew until the morning of October 7. At the moments when many residents had to evacuate quickly and leave almost everything behind, Maya had one more concern: "I left two giant open sacks of cat food at home, plenty of bowls of water, and we left in the chaos, without knowing how long we’d be gone," Maya recalls.

Like the Dotan family, many evacuees were forced to leave their homes in an instant. Very quickly, Maya realized just how many animals were left behind: House pets without owners, alongside many stray cats. She decided to take matters into her own hands. "I felt that something had to be done, and within a day or two, we had already started organizing rescue and aid efforts. We began creating WhatsApp groups of people from across the Gaza Envelope and the southern communities."

What began as an immediate response to rescue and assist soon evolved, within a matter of days, into an extensive and almost unimaginable project: A cat-feeding network across all the Gaza Envelope communities. Maya’s initiative swept the South: Dozens of groups were formed and began communicating and coordinating with each other. Community carpentry shops from Ganei Tikva and Ramat Gan volunteered to create and transport organized feeding stations. Private donors contributed, rescue forces received sacks to distribute in the field, and were directed to locations where animals had been left behind. "People from everywhere just wanted to help — it was moving."

Then came an unexpected mobilization — from the Friskies brand by Purina, which became a major turning point in the entire project. "Friskies was there from the very beginning," says Maya. "The moment we saw the giant Purina trucks, it was a huge relief because I understood that with their help we could create a real operation. They donated tons of food, supplies, and joined the project as a true partner."

Today, there are feeding stations in nearly every community in the Gaza Envelope, with a local contact person at each one. "We have a rotation schedule, and just in Netiv HaAsara alone, we have about 10 people doing daily feeding rounds," Maya proudly shares.

Maya’s connection with Friskies goes back years. "It sounds funny to say, but some cats recognize that yellow Friskies logo and immediately gather around. It’s been with me for years, and their flavors also make a real difference," she adds. "Cats, contrary to popular belief, don’t eat just anything. They know what works for them, and once they get used to it — there’s no turning back."

"My cat Milky lived to be 21, and that’s no joke. He was very spoiled and ate only Friskies his whole life," Maya recalls. Since then, it’s become the go-to food, both in her household and across the project. "There was a good reason for that. It’s a full-scale operation. That’s why the giant 10 kg and 13.6 kg Friskies sacks are a real lifesaver."

In some places, the feeding stations also became memorials. In Netiv HaAsara, for example, stations were established in memory of two residents, Ayelet and Shlomi Molcho, who were murdered along with their dogs. "There’s a sign on each station," says Maya. "It’s touching and reminds me every single time why this whole big thing matters."

Maya and her family have not yet returned to their home in the Gaza Envelope, but a significant part of her routine is still dedicated to the project. When she returns to visit Netiv HaAsara, she always stops by the local feeding station. "There’s something healing about it. The project fills me and the hundreds of partners with a sense of purpose, hope, and renewal — during complicated days. Thanks to everyone who supported and donated from across the country, and thanks to the massive mobilization of the business sector and Purina, I believe the power to do good and promote compassion lies in the hands of each and every one of us."

Friskies, a cat food brand, is now also available in 10 kg and 13.6 kg packages in flavors cats truly love.