Kennel

Chiang Rai

The main kennel, on land owned by Yeepun's aunt. Most of the cats from the stories on this site were moved here after Yeepun died.

Chiang Rai, northern Thailand Cared for by Yeepun's mother and her sister
Chiang Rai

The Chiang Rai kennel sits on a family property in the far north of Thailand, owned by Yeepun’s aunt. When Mom moved up from Bangkok she brought the cats with her, and when Yeepun died the rest followed. The family built wire-mesh kennels on the land, with raised platforms and shelters for the cats, and a separate room in the house for the ones that have to be kept apart, like Bang-earn.

This is where Tiger, Snow, Manui, Yim, Gift’s family and most of the others live now.

The kennel also looks after a few dogs.

One of the kennel dogs resting on a blanket

Tom is visiting in late 2026 and will update the counts, the costs, and the photos.

What this kennel needs

  • Monthly food and veterinary care The ongoing cost. Real monthly figure coming after Tom's visit.
  • A bigger play area Tiger, Snow, Yim and the others share a small kennel and need room to move.
  • A proper kennel for the leukemia cats $1,500 (2016 estimate) Jumpy's kittens were kept in a small cage above the carport. See their story.
  • Spay and neuter for the strays nearby Every unspayed stray means more kittens at the gate.

Send a gift

To support this kennel specifically, write Chiang Rai in the memo of your payment. Gifts without a note are split equally among the three kennels.

Who lives here

In memory
In memory

Tiger

Found dying in a Bangkok parking lot, living in a cage made of trash. He went on to a long, healthy life with the family.

healthy

Snow

He fell from under a moving car on a Bangkok bridge. Two months in the clinic and a maxed-out credit card later, he was fine.

healthy

Manui

A black kitten from our nightly walks, rescued from a security guard who was about to put him back on the street.

In memory
In memory

Nuu Yim

A lost kitten who played with a dry leaf in our Bangkok garden until we let him in. Independent, clever, and the only cat who ever obeyed me.

In memory
In memory

Bang-earn

Found sitting quietly in a box by the roadside in southern Thailand. His name means “by chance.” He had FIV and lived in his own room.

five cats, all healthy

Gift's Family

A stray mother cat, a kitten stuck inside a wall in a rainstorm, and a neighbor with small hands. All five are still together.

two kittens remain (2016)

Jumpy's Family

A stray mother and four kittens, a monk who offered to take them in, and then a diagnosis of feline leukemia for all five.

healthy (2016)

Lucky

Small enough to fit in a hand and sick enough for an incubator in May 2015. By 2016, a lanky, pale-coated adult.

at the kennel (2016)

Max

A bright-eyed kitten photographed on a plastic chair at the kennel in November 2016.

Updates from Chiang Rai

All updates
Nov 9, 2016

Building the new kennel

Wire mesh, posts and a lot of sweat. A look at the new kennel going up in Chiang Rai in November 2016.

Nov 9, 2016

A home for Jumpy's kittens

The two surviving kittens with feline leukemia live in a small cage above the carport. We wanted to build them something better.

Nov 8, 2016

Room to play

Inside the cat room at Chiang Rai: beds, boxes and a lot of cats in not very much space.