Domestic (Street) Cat in Saudi Arabia: A Guide to Adopting One

The baladi cat isn't a breed. It's any ordinary, non-pedigree cat, whether it was born in a home, a shelter or on the street [1]. These cats are typically robust, agile and self-reliant [1]. Here's how to welcome one into your home safely.

Domestic cat quick facts

Is the baladi cat a breed?

No. "Baladi", "street" or "domestic shorthair" simply describes a cat that wasn't bred for a set look [1]. Most of the world's cats are like this [1].

International Cat Care puts it plainly: a pedigree cat is not better than a non-pedigree cat, it's just different [1].

Is a street cat healthy enough for the home?

A street start isn't an illness in itself. Every new cat, wherever it came from, needs the same vet check and basic hygiene [8][12].

There's good news, too. Pedigree breeds come from small, closed gene pools, where inherited problems such as polycystic kidney disease can spread [1]. Random-bred cats come from a much wider pool, so they're less likely to carry these [1].

A large UK study found that crossbred cats tended to live a little longer, on average, than purebred cats [13]. Neutered cats and lighter cats also tended to live longer [13].

Found a cat on the street: is it a stray or a lost pet?

Before you take a cat home, check that it doesn't already have one [2][6]:

• Look for a collar or tag.
• Ask a vet to scan it for a microchip.
• Look for a neat, straight notch on the tip of one ear. This "ear-tip" means the cat is already neutered and cared for as a community cat [2][6].

Lost cats are more often reunited with their owners when they're left where they are, while you ask around nearby [7].

Only approach a calm cat. A frightened cat may bite or scratch, so never handle it with bare hands. Ask a vet or a local shelter for help instead [2][6].

Found a mother cat with kittens? Mothers often leave their kittens for a few hours to find food. That's normal. Keep the family together, and step in only if they look ill, injured or in real danger [7]. Our kitten care guide covers the early weeks.

What should I do on the first day?

Give your new cat a calm start in one quiet room [3]:

• A litter tray, with food and water kept away from it.
• A hiding place and a scratching post.
• No loose cables, toxic plants or breakables.

Open the carrier and let the cat come out in its own time. Sit at floor level, and let the cat make the first move. Allow about 24 hours before visitors or a lot of handling [3].

Other pets at home? Don't let them meet on day one. Introduce them slowly, step by step, over days to weeks [3]. This also keeps your other pets apart until the vet has checked the newcomer.

What happens at the first vet visit?

Book a check-up as soon as you can [8]. For a cat with an unknown past, the vet will usually [8]:

• Test for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
• Check for internal and external parasites.
• Examine the eyes, ears, coat and body condition.

Your vet will also plan vaccinations and parasite control with you, based on your cat [9]. Neutering and keeping a healthy weight are standard topics at this visit too [8][9].

Should I neuter my baladi cat?

It's a good question to raise at the first visit [8][9]. In the UK study, neutered cats tended to live longer [13]. Neutering is also the kindest way to help street cats, as you'll see below [4][6]. Your vet will advise on the right timing.

What do baladi cats eat?

The same as any other cat. There's no special "street cat" diet [8][11]. Ask a licensed vet which food suits your cat. Vet guidance on how to feed [11]:

• Food: a complete, balanced cat food. Look for a nutritional adequacy statement on the pack. Home-made food often lacks key nutrients.
• Adults: usually two measured meals a day, not a bowl left full all day.
• Kittens: 3 to 4 smaller meals a day of kitten food, and kitten food until about 9 to 12 months.
• Water: always fresh, in several bowls, cleaned daily.

A cat that was underfed on the street may need to regain condition. Let your vet guide this [8][11].

Should my cat live indoors or go outside?

Indoor cats face fewer physical risks, such as traffic, fights and infectious disease, so they may live longer [5]. Outdoor access gives more exercise and stimulation, but with real risks [5]. The right balance depends on your cat and your home [5].

How do I keep my cat cool in the Saudi summer?

Once a cat lives indoors, it needs the same heat care whether it came from the street or a breeder. Learn the signs and what to do in our heatstroke article.

Go to a vet right away if your cat collapses, struggles to breathe, or has pale or bluish gums [10].

Can I catch anything from a street cat?

Simple hygiene keeps the risk low with any new cat [12].

• Ringworm: a fungal skin infection, not a worm. It can pass to people through touch, or through shared bedding and grooming tools. Children, older people and anyone with a weak immune system are more at risk [12]. Wash your hands after handling a new cat, don't share bedding or brushes, and keep surfaces clean until the vet has checked its skin and coat [12].
• Toxoplasmosis: a common worry, especially in pregnancy. Read the facts in our toxoplasmosis and pregnancy guide.

When should I take my new cat to the vet?

See a vet within 24 hours if you notice [10]:

• Not eating or drinking for 24 hours.
• Constant sneezing or coughing.
• Vomiting or diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours.
• A sudden change in behaviour, or extreme tiredness.
• Cloudy or squinting eyes, or discharge from the eyes, ears or elsewhere.
• A rash, constant scratching, or limping for more than a day.

Go right away for difficult breathing, choking, pale or bluish gums, heavy bleeding, seizures, straining without passing urine or stool, or collapse [10]. These lists tell you when to go. Only a licensed vet can say what's wrong.

What are community cats and TNR?

Community cats are free-roaming cats. Some are friendly but unowned. Others are feral: never socialised to people, so being shut in or handled distresses them [2][4].

The humane way to manage them is Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR or TNR) [4][6]. Cats are gently trapped, neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped and returned to their home area, often with a local caretaker [4][6].

Why it works [4][6]:

• Numbers stabilise, then slowly fall, without harming the cats.
• Less noise, smell and fighting, because neutered cats stop competing to mate.
• Neutered cats can live stable lives outdoors. In one long-term study, 83% of a managed colony's cats were still there more than six years later.

Want to help? Welfare bodies see supporting neutering, through a vet or a local shelter, as the most helpful step [6]. It works best as a team effort, not something one person takes on alone [6]. Local rules can vary, so check with your municipality before starting or joining any community programme.

Should I adopt or buy a cat?

You don't need a pedigree to have a loving, healthy cat. On average, random-bred cats are not less healthy than pedigree cats, and the wider gene pool may even help [1][13]. Buying from a breeder makes sense mainly when you have a clear reason for wanting a specific breed [1].

Either way, an adopted cat needs the same vet check, vaccination plan and neutering talk as a bought kitten [8].

Before you adopt

• Ask for any health record and vaccination card that came with the cat [8].
• Ask a vet to scan for a microchip, in case the cat already has an owner [2].
• Book the first vet visit as soon as possible [8].
• Prepare a quiet room, litter tray, bowls, hiding place and scratching post [3].
• Plan for costs: food, litter, vet check-ups and vaccinations, neutering, parasite control and an emergency fund [8][9][11].

Can I travel with an adopted cat?

Yes. A baladi cat follows the same travel steps as any pet cat. Our Persian cat article explains them. Always confirm the current rules with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) through the Anaam platform before you book. This is guidance only.

Did you know? A large UK study of everyday vet practices found that most pet cats were crossbred, non-pedigree cats, and that crossbred cats tended to live a little longer, on average, than purebred cats [13]. The ordinary baladi-type cat, not any one breed, is what most pet cats really are.

Domestic cat FAQ

How long do baladi cats live?

A large UK study found that crossbred cats tended to live a little longer, on average, than purebred cats [13].

Is a baladi cat a breed?

No. It's any non-pedigree, randomly bred cat [1].

Should I keep a new street cat away from my other pets?

Yes, at first. Keep it in its own room, and introduce it slowly over days to weeks [3]. Let a vet check it first [8].

What does a cut ear tip on a street cat mean?

It's a deliberate, neat notch showing the cat was neutered and vaccinated through a TNR programme. It's not an injury and needs no treatment [2][6].

Does a baladi cat handle Saudi heat better than other cats?

We found no reliable source that shows this. Give every cat the same heat care, and learn the heatstroke signs.