During a natural disaster such as a flash flood or earthquake, most people would only think about their own lives and try to survive no matter what.
However, for some, the lives of other human beings or animals are equally or if not, more important than their own.
In a report by BERNAMA, a woman proved to be the ultimate cat lover after she had prioritised the safety of her 12 cats after predicting an incoming flood in Kampung Paya Merah Lama, Johor, on January 24.
According to Faridah Idris, it was early in the morning when she took note of the rising waters around her house due to the continuous overnight rain.
She said that the 12 pet cats in a cage outside of her house became her first priority as they were her “prized possessions”.
“It was around after dawn, I noticed the water rising very quickly after continuous rain overnight. In my mind, I just wanted to save my cats.”
In the incident, the residence of Faridah and her husband Ahad Musa, 52, was among the worst affected after being flooded up to waist level.
When the incident happened, Faridah’s husband was sending their son back to Batu Pahat and therefore, was not around.
“I was not very well, and so I immediately asked my other child to help me move the cats onto my husband’s lorry,” Faridah explained to reporters while cleaning her residence.
Although all of her cats were safe, her victory did come with a sacrifice. The family had lost almost half of their 60 pet chickens due to the flood.
According to Faridah, all of her chickens were kept in cages, and the family had raised these chickens as pets and were not for trading. The strong currents had damaged 2 cages and set their chickens off into the waters.
“In such a chaotic situation, it was difficult to save each one, especially when some of them flew off.”
She said that her village has always been prone to flooding due to its low-laying terrain and explained that the problem of clogged drains in her village had intensified the flood, making it one of the worst they have experienced.
“Many of the drains here are clogged with tree branches and palm leaves. I hope the local authorities can help clean them, otherwise, the villagers will suffer,” she concluded.
Kudos to Faridah for selflessly prioritising her cats over her very own life. We hope that she and her family will recover from the damages they suffered due to the floods.
Also read: Horses Left Abandoned by Owner in Ampang, Rescued by PDRM Equestrian Unit
