The Community Animal Training Course is open to all UAE residents, from long-time rescuers to newcomers who simply want to help. By improving knowledge and consistency, the initiative aims to reduce injuries, build healthier colonies, and foster a shared responsibility for the city’s street cats.
Stray cats are a familiar sight across the UAE, often seen near shops or following residents on evening walks. While many are cared for by kind-hearted people, food and affection alone are not enough to ensure their survival. To provide practical support, Animal Welfare Abu Dhabi (AWAD) and Microchipped.ae have launched the Community Animal Training Course—a free resource designed to improve the way communities care for stray cats.
Unlike global models, the programme addresses the unique conditions faced by cats in the UAE. With scorching summer heat, common tick-borne diseases, and different regional risks, the training offers guidance specific to the Gulf. It also includes federal and municipality-level recommendations to ensure all practices are welfare-friendly and legally compliant.
One of the biggest challenges, experts explain, is the misconception that feeding alone helps cats. Without sterilisation, healthier cats reproduce quickly, worsening overpopulation. The training emphasises the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Microchip-Return (TNVMR) method, teaching volunteers to combine feeding with sterilisation and vaccination for sustainable colony management.
According to AWAD CEO Dr Rachel J. Shaw, the course also guides caregivers who may become emotionally focused on individual sick cats. While compassion is vital, the long-term impact lies in colony-level care. David Appleby, founder of Microchipped.ae, added that the course was created to meet a “real need,” offering tools and support to communities already trying to help.
The free online course is divided into nine modules covering everything from feline behaviour and health risks to safe feeding, post-surgery monitoring, and colony maintenance. With visual guides and simple steps, it empowers residents to take effective, coordinated action rather than working in isolation.
The Community Animal Training Course is open to all UAE residents, from long-time rescuers to newcomers who simply want to help. By improving knowledge and consistency, the initiative aims to reduce injuries, build healthier colonies, and foster a shared responsibility for the city’s street cats.
For more details or to register, visit www.catraining.ae.
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