Meryem El Hajari has turned her family home into a sanctuary for stray and injured cats, sacrificing her nursing career to care for over 70 felines. Despite the emotional and financial challenges, Meryem's unwavering dedication provides a lifeline for these animals, offering them a chance at survival and a testament to the profound bond between humans and their animal companions. DR ‹ › On the rooftop of her family home in the Guich Oudaya neighborhood of Temara, Meryem El hajari has transformed part of the house into a modest shelter for stray, sick, and injured cats. The space is simple, but today it hosts dozens of animals that would not have survived on the streets. At 41, Meryem never imagined she would one day be responsible for so many lives. What began as a series of isolated acts of compassion gradually became a full-time commitment, one that eventually led her to leave her job as a nurse to devote herself entirely to their care. An unplanned path Meryem initially had just one cat at home. Six years ago, she came across an injured stray with a broken leg. «Someone had tried to treat it by putting splints on its leg», she told Yabiladi. She took the cat to a veterinarian, intending to treat it and return it to the street. The diagnosis changed everything: the nerve was irreparably damaged, and amputation was the only option. «At that moment, I knew I couldn't put it back outside», she says. She decided to keep the cat at her parents' home, where she still lives. Soon after, during a visit to Casablanca, Meryem encountered another cat, paralyzed and dragging its body along the ground. «The scene was unbearable. I didn't hesitate for a second», she recalls. She brought the cat back to Temara, where it underwent long months of treatment and rehabilitation. Eventually, it managed to stand again, even if only on one leg. That experience, she says, confirmed her belief that some animals simply cannot survive on the streets without intervention. From then on, caring for stray and seriously ill or disabled cats became a constant part of her life. Meryem explains that cats with minor illnesses are treated and returned to their original locations once they recover. But those with permanent disabilities or chronic conditions stay with her. «The street is not an option for them», she says. In the beginning, she relied heavily on veterinarians, unsure how to handle medical care herself. Over time, and drawing on her professional background as a nurse, she gained experience and confidence. Today, she manages most routine treatments on her own, including administering medication and vaccines, turning to vets only for complex cases or surgery. A growing responsibility The family home now shelters around 70 cats. At first, Meryem's parents struggled to accept the situation. But as one difficult case followed another, their resistance softened. «Most of the cats arrive in heartbreaking conditions», she says. «My parents' humanity always takes over. They welcome them, and even help me care for them». Despite the scale of her work, Meryem receives no support from public institutions or animal welfare organizations. Aside from occasional help from individual donors, she relies almost entirely on her own resources. In addition to the cats living in the house, she also feeds several colonies of strays in the surrounding streets. «A 15-kilogram bag of dry food lasts just three days and costs around 500 dirhams», she explains. «I also buy litter almost daily, two bags a day, which comes to nearly 3,000 dirhams a month, not counting medical expenses. And cats can't survive on dry food alone; it damages their kidneys». Choosing care over career As the number of cats requiring constant attention grew, continuing her professional life became impossible. «Some cats, especially the paralyzed ones, need daily, precise care», she says. «I couldn't juggle work and their needs. I chose them, even knowing the sacrifices involved». Yet the emotional toll has been the hardest part. Meryem recalls, with visible pain, a cat suffering from advanced ear cancer. She took it to multiple veterinarians and tried every possible treatment, including traditional remedies, in hopes of saving it. The cat lived with her for a year before its condition worsened and it eventually died. Each loss triggers a period of deep grief. The repeated emotional strain has worried her father, who fears for her mental health. Still, Meryem insists that her bond with the cats makes loss unavoidable, and devastating. «They're like my children», she says. «Losing one feels like losing a part of myself». She ends with quiet conviction: «The presence of these cats in my life was not a coincidence. God put them on my path for a reason. I may be saving them but in many ways, they save me too».
