Far from the war zone, Basra's cats lap it up in their own hotel

Basra - There are even scratching posts for those who feel the urge to climb or sharpen their claws.

A world away from Iraq's battlegrounds, Basra's cat-lovers have found a haven for their favourite pets.
Veterinary student Ahmed Taher Maki has turned his home in the southern city into what he believes is Iraq's first cat hotel.
For as little as 5,000 Iraqi dinars ($4.20) a night - or half that for long stays - the guests can enjoy beds, regular meals, health checkups and a mini playground, all under the cooling purr of an air conditioner. Cats are king in the hotel's two rooms.
Maki said he was hoping to encourage more people to adopt cats in the city and give them a place to leave their pets when they are away on a trip.
Taking care of animals gives people a "merciful heart," he said. "The hotel is a noble thing and unprecedented in the south of Iraq and Basra in particular."
Another cat lover, Mehdi Fadel, owner of Bella, a longhaired Angora, was enthusiastic when he heard about the "4Cats Pet Hotel" on social media.
"I really liked the idea because my family and I travel a lot and it's always hard to find a place where we can leave our cat," he said as he came to take Bella home.
Its three current guests are free to play with toys, relax in beds, or take a snooze on a carpet of fake grass.
There are even scratching posts for those who feel the urge to climb or sharpen their claws.
Fadel, 23, said the hotel regularly sent him messages and pictures via the WhatsApp messaging app while he was away, keeping him up-to-date on Bella's stay.
Mohammed Jassem, the vet who runs the clinic on the ground floor, said the idea of setting up a hotel for cats initially shocked residents of Basra, rich in oil but poor in infrastructure. But cat lovers quickly embraced the idea, he said.
"They like it and people began leaving their animals with us when they took off on holiday," he said.
Taher said he plans to expand the hotel to host dogs and even birds.

• MENA