KEY POINTS:
Like many spouses of diplomats, Kiwi Angie Schlaepfer got involved in charity work in her temporary country of residence, but this young woman has gone a step further in Jakarta and set up her own charity - for cats.
The 27-year-old is pouring all her time, money and
energy into the welfare of the wild cats.
Her aim as the self-styled cat lady of Jakarta is to sterilise as many cats as she can to save them and their kittens from a subsistence existence and often an early and grisly death.
The cat problem is not obvious to the casual Jakarta visitor. But they are there in hordes - skinny, hungry and ill.
Her biggest assignment so far has been at the United States Embassy, which was becoming concerned at the number and state of wild cats in its compound.
"They had a huge problem where the cats were trapped in a breeding cycle."
Over a period of five months, she trapped about 40 cats to take to several vets and returned them after about five days for females, less time for males.
For $50 the cats are sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed and defleaed.
And to anyone who wonders what right she has to interfere, she says: "They should put themselves in the shoes of a female street cats. They can't tell us when they're sick, hungry, depressed, tired. It's up to us to make an intelligent and informed decision about their welfare."
She started her work in her own street when she and husband Peter Fa'Afiu paid for a cat to be sterilised.
Ms Schlaepfer had watched the cat give birth to kittens that had all died.
"One kitten's eyes turned to mush, the next one started having seizures."
After the operation, the cat became healthy and the pair continued down their street, desexing 35 to 40 cats.
"It became an addiction really," said Ms Schlaepfer..
Her work was spread by word of mouth and now people approach with projects - but she had to take care in explaining to Indonesians what she was trying to achieve.
"They don't really understand the concept of sterilisation."
Her husband is second political secretary at the Embassy in Jakarta, his first overseas posting with Foreign Affairs.
When the pair moved to Jakarta, they took the animals Ms Schlaepfer had acquired working at the SPCA in Wellington - three dogs and two cats. That cost an extra $10,000 but money was not a consideration as the pets were like family.
"My animals are like my children, and I couldn't ever put a price on what they mean to me. Also, I believe in forever homes. Once you make a commitment to an animal, you have the responsibility to care for them until they die."
They have since acquired six kittens on the brink of death, a puppy and a dog found on the street with a broken leg.
"Needless to say we don't have many dinner parties at our house."
As much as she cannot stand to see animals suffering, Ms Schlaepfer doesn't criticise the Indonesian attitude to animals.
"Most people here don't go out of their way to be awful to the cats but they don't go out of their way to improve their welfare either."
And many Indonesians are fond of pedigree cats.
Ms Schlaepfer's aim in the next two years is to get the Jakarta Street Cat Foundation to the point where it will continue when she leaves. And she wants to extend the work where the need is greatest, around villages and markets, rather than mainly in areas where people can afford it.
She said people often asked her why she concentrated her time on animals rather than people in developing country.
"What I say is animals have the same vulnerabilities as people. Children and older people and animals all have those vulnerabilities. Someone has got to look after the animals.
"It's all very well wishing things were different and having compassion and kind thoughts but what you need to do is roll up your sleeves and get out there and make a change."
Kindest cuts
* The Jakarta Street Cat Foundation's aim is to sterilise as many cats as possible.
* Once sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed and defleaed, the cats are released back on to the streets.
* The work has spread by word of mouth and the foundation is now approached with projects.
* For more information contact info@jakartastreetcat.com.
