No. 152 / Jun 7, 2021
Have you ever seen a cat at school? Ajou University has a club of extreme cat-lovers who take care of stray cat living on school property. The Ajou Globe (The AG), interviewed MeYouMeow club president Seo- Gun to learn more details.
Q. Please introduce the MeYouMeow club.
A. MeYouMeow is working in service of coexistence between campus-dwelling cats and Ajou University students. The club’s major activities include school meal activities, regular Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR), rescue, the treatment of cats on campus, and other activities to protect and improve the welfare of these animals. MeYouMeow activities have the advantage of allowing participants to get acquainted with cats and other cat-lovers, and to expand the time they spend doing volunteer work.
Q. What motivated you to join the MeYouMeow club?
A. I joined MeYouMeow based on my close friend’s recommendation. At first, I was allergic to cats and feared them, so I was worried if I could get close to those on campus. By the way, my fear of cats disappeared while I was doing MeYouMeow activities. Now, I like them enough to raise a companion cat!
Q. Please explain, in detail, how cats are fed during club activities.
A. MeYouMeow determines the location of the activity by identifying the cat habitats, and operates three feeding routes chosen to ensure club members can conveniently distribute the food. Each route has up to two people on it, and they adjust their delivery times between noon and midnight. Small portions of feed and a can of nutritional supplements are divided among the number of people serving, and they then take the feed and supplements to each food distribution location. After distribution, they take pictures to document that the task is done and check in with the administrator.
Q. What were difficulties and rewards of MeYouMeow activities after COVID-19?
A. It was difficult to meet the members of the club due to COVID-19, making it challenging to socialize and to guide the food distribution process and method. In addition, all classes were non-face to face, reducing the number of active people available; it was difficult to proceed with cat food distribution with a small number of members. However, new members worked hard after watching video guidelines on MeYouMeow’s feeding method after COVID-19! I am always grateful to the MeYouMeow members for following the social distancing and quarantine rules and for their interest in Ajou University cats.
Q. What do you advise people to do and not do about stray cats living at Ajou University?
A. Playing with the cats is very welcome, even for classmates who are not MeYouMeow members! However, we ask that you refrain from giving the cats food that is meant for humans (coke, sweets, dried anchovies that are not salt-free, bread, etc.) for the health of cats.
Q. What are MeYouMeow’s future operation plans and goals?
A. Until the COVID-19 situation calms down, we will follow the quarantine rules and work with a maximum of two people on each course. All in-person activities other than cat food distribution will be postponed indefinitely. In addition, we will limit the number of people deployed to routes if social distancing measures are upgraded. As the no-contact mandate is extended, this year’s operational goal is to help executives understand the circumstances of the campus cats and maintain club activities.
<Campus cats information>
Name: Ppiyak-i
Characteristics: Does not cry “meow”, but cries “peek”
Name: Dae-Mog-Gju (Great Red Spot- Mog Seong: Jupiter Korean - Jupiter)
Characteristics: Follows peoples closely and likes them
Name: Hag-Chi
Characteristics: Was wild at first, and is getting worse
Name: Sam-Saeg
Characteristics: Small and cute, but very smart
Name: Jeom-lye
Characteristics: Hobby is taking naps on Styrofoam
Instagram: @ajou.meyoumeow
By Kim Jae-hyun, AG Cub Reporter
zxc2337@ajou.ac.kr
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