Why Is a Man Feeding Bangkok’s Stray Cats Every Day?

One man in Bangkok has turned feeding stray cats into a daily commitment that starts before sunrise. For roughly a year and a half, he has been visiting Lumpini Park around 4:30 a.m., feeding between 35 and 50 cats during his two-hour route and spending about $400 a month on food. What started simply because he saw cats that needed help has become, in his words, “a calling almost, a practice” and a major part of his life in Thailand.

Why does someone wake up at 2 a.m. to feed stray cats in Bangkok?

For him, feeding the cats has become a daily practice and a source of meaning rather than simply an act of charity. He gets up around 2 a.m., works out first, then takes a Grab scooter to Lumpini Park when the gates open at 4:30.

He spends approximately two hours moving through different parts of the park and encounters between 35 and 50 cats.

“I get up at 2ish. By 4:00, I’m ready to come here. The gates open at 4:30. I get a Grab scooter. I come over here. Yeah. So, then I do two hours here.”

The routine developed gradually. He had always loved cats and dogs and had previously fed neighborhood cats in California. While living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, he also helped cats at a shelter and fostered animals in his apartment.

When he moved to Thailand, he started bringing food to the cats he encountered in Bangkok. Eventually, feeding them became a commitment.

“I said, if I’m going to do this, I need to commit to it.”

That commitment is now part of his daily life.

“For me it’s become like a calling almost, a practice. It’s part of a way of life.”

How many stray cats are actually living around Lumpini Park?

The route includes dozens of cats, with the feeder encountering roughly 35 to 50 during a typical morning. Some live around buildings, bathrooms, shops and other areas where food is available, while others occupy relatively small territories within the park.

The cats aren’t all alike. Some immediately approach him, while others remain extremely cautious. One cat has cataracts in both eyes and is almost blind. Another cat had been fed for months but remained skittish.

“They have diverse personalities,” he explained, adding that their behavior can depend on how they were raised and their experiences.

Some cats are also territorial and don’t get along. During feeding, one cat might approach another cat’s food and start a confrontation.

The cats have also clearly learned his routine. As he walks through the park, groups of cats emerge and rush toward him.

“They all clearly recognize him.”

That relationship is one of the most striking parts of his routine. The feeding isn’t simply him leaving food somewhere and walking away. Many of the cats appear to recognize him and anticipate his arrival.

Are Bangkok’s stray cats sick or injured?

Yes, some of the cats have injuries, skin problems and other health issues, while others appear relatively healthy. During the morning route, the feeder pointed out cats with wounds and a cat suffering from cataracts.

“Some of them have had rough, rough lives.”

He believes many of the healthier cats could potentially be adopted if they received vaccinations and were sterilized.

“They could be adopted. I mean, they’re need to be vaccinated and fixed.”

But caring for a large outdoor population creates difficult problems. Cats disappear, new cats appear, and some may be brought into the park.

He described one colony that appeared suddenly, with several cats showing signs that they had already been sterilized, including tipped ears and markings around their bellies. He suspected someone had intentionally brought them there after learning that he fed the cats.

The population is therefore not static. The cats he sees today aren’t necessarily the same cats he’ll find months later.

Why does he feed the cats so early in the morning?

He moved his feeding schedule to the early morning partly because ravens would compete with the cats for the food. Originally, he fed the cats later, closer to sunrise.

But once the sun came up, the ravens became active.

“I’d put the food down, the ravens would come down and the moment I walk away they’re fighting with the cats to get the food.”

The ravens would even grab at the cats’ tails, according to him. Eventually, he decided that arriving earlier was the easiest solution.

The 4:30 a.m. schedule also means he encounters Bangkok while much of the city is still quiet. He noticed that there are already regular joggers, workers, security guards and other people using the park at that hour.

Over time, those regular visitors have become part of what he calls the “Lumpini community.”

How much does it cost to feed Bangkok’s stray cats?

He spends approximately $400 a month on cat food and chicken for the animals. He purchases cat food locally from Pinkpaws, a Thai shop, and also buys chicken.

He has established a registered nonprofit in the United States, based in Wyoming and recognized as a 501(c)(3). The organization was created partly to generate interest and potentially bring additional assistance to the cats.

He also established a PayPal Giving Fund so people can contribute in U.S. dollars, while people in Thailand can contribute baht toward direct purchases of cat food.

But money isn’t currently the main reason he does it.

“If I had more money, I might be able to hire a vet to come out here.”

He has attempted to get veterinary assistance before, but the transcript makes clear that his current operation remains largely dependent on what he can personally provide.

There is also a practical concern about disease transmission. Because he moves between different groups of cats, he recognizes that he could potentially carry infections from one colony to another.

“I’m not unaware that I’m a potential vector of disease.”

He tries to clean up between colonies to reduce that risk.

Did moving to Bangkok give him a new purpose in retirement?

Yes, caring for the cats became part of how he rebuilt his life after selling his business, moving abroad and going through major personal changes. He had previously run an online business and lived in Mexico for five years before moving to Thailand, first to Chiang Mai and eventually Bangkok.

After selling his business, he realized that retirement required more than simply stopping work.

“You get older and you have to find new meaning in life or not.”

He also described making deliberate changes to his lifestyle. After experiencing burnout from running his business, he focused on self-care and lost 70 pounds in approximately 10 months.

The cats eventually became another part of that transformation.

Although Bangkok has aspects that frustrate him, including the smog, he says the cats have become one of the reasons he remains committed to the city.

“The cats now, they’ve become the reason I’m here.”

That makes the Lumpini Park routine more than a story about feeding animals. It’s also a story about what happens when someone moves abroad, leaves a career behind and has to build a new daily life around something meaningful.

Closing Paragraph

The stray cats of Lumpini Park are easy to overlook because the park itself is such a popular part of Bangkok life. But before sunrise, one resident walks through the trees carrying food for dozens of animals that recognize him and depend on his routine. His project costs roughly $400 a month, requires hours of work every day and comes with difficult realities involving injuries, disease, territorial fights and disappearing cats. Yet for him, the commitment has become something larger: a daily practice that gives structure and purpose to his life in Bangkok.

FAQ

How many stray cats does he feed in Lumpini Park?

He encounters approximately 35 to 50 cats during his morning route. He also feeds some stray cats near a local market close to his home.

What time does he feed the cats?

He gets up around 2 a.m. and arrives at Lumpini Park around 4:30 a.m., when the gates open. He typically spends about two hours feeding the cats.

Why does he feed the cats so early?

The main reason is to get ahead of the ravens. He found that once the sun came up, ravens would compete with the cats for the food.

Are the stray cats in Lumpini Park healthy?

Some appear healthy, but others have skin problems, wounds and other issues. One cat mentioned in the transcript has cataracts in both eyes and is almost blind.

Does he have a nonprofit for Bangkok’s stray cats?

Yes. He established a Wyoming-based U.S. nonprofit with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. He also created a PayPal Giving Fund and purchases food locally.

How much does he spend feeding the cats?

He says he spends approximately $400 per month on cat food and chicken. Additional funding could potentially allow him to bring veterinary care to the cats.

Is feeding stray cats difficult?

Yes. The cats have different personalities and don’t always get along, and some have health problems. He also worries about carrying diseases between different cat colonies.

Why did he choose Bangkok?

He said he loved Thailand after visiting and believed the quality of life was superior to many other places. He specifically mentioned friendly people, abundant and diverse food, and eventually said the cats themselves became one of the reasons he stayed.