From a Foundation to a Cat Café in Downtown Budapest – The Story of Dia's Rescued Cats
One Person, Seventy Cats, and an Endless Mission – A Conversation with the Founder of the Dia Cat Rescue Foundation
We've mentioned Dia in several of our previous posts, as most of our rescued cats came to us through her. But who is she, and what incredible challenge does she face every single day? The fate of stray and abandoned cats often goes unnoticed by most people. Yet there are those who dedicate every single day to giving these animals a second chance at life.
The founder of the Dia Cat Rescue Foundation is one of those people. In our conversation with her, we learned how the foundation began 🐈, what it takes to care for nearly seventy cats, and the one message she wishes every person could hear.
A Dream That Became a Foundation
The Dia Cat Rescue Foundation was established in 2024, but its story began much earlier. Years before founding the organization, Dia had already been rescuing cats in need as a private individual. In 2024, she decided to officially turn her lifelong passion into a foundation.
I felt it was time to take my dream seriously and fully dedicate myself to rescuing cats.
Days That Seem Unimaginable to Others, Yet Are Part of Her Everyday Life
Many people can hardly imagine how much work goes into running an animal rescue organization. Dia currently cares for around seventy rescued cats on her own, all while balancing her job, household responsibilities, and family life.
Her days typically begin with three hours of cleaning, disinfecting, and feeding the cats. Throughout the day, she manages veterinary visits, administers medications, arranges vaccinations, and responds to rescue calls. After work, she returns home to repeat many of the same tasks that have become part of her daily routine.
Where Do the Rescued Cats Come From?
Most rescue missions begin after reports from members of the public. Sometimes they are called to help injured or sick cats, while other times they assist with trapping or safely capturing stray animals. It is also common for the people who find the cats to bring them directly to the foundation. The condition of the cats upon arrival varies greatly.
Some cats arrive in critical condition, while others are fortunately in much better shape. Every single case brings new challenges and often requires immediate veterinary care. Some wait for weeks, while others wait for years before finding their forever home.
Some cats find their forever home within just a few weeks, while others spend many years in the foundation's care.At the moment, one of the cats has been waiting for five years for someone to finally choose them.Every adoption is a truly special moment, marking the beginning of a new life.
That's why Catuccino Cafe was created. We wanted to build more than just a cat café in downtown Budapest—we wanted to create a place where rescued cats have the opportunity to find their loving forever homes.
Among the countless rescue stories, it's difficult to single out just one. Yet the memory of Szofi holds a particularly special place in Dia's heart.
Szofi története örökre a szívemben marad. Szofi félholt állapotban feküdt egy árokban, amikor rátaláltak. Az esélyei minimálisak voltak, mégis sikerült megmenteni. Később már nemcsak egy mentett cica volt, hanem családtag is. Hosszú éveken át élt Dia mellett, mígnem vesebetegség következtében elhunyt. 🖤
A legfelemelőbb pillanatokat ugyanakkor maga a mentés jelenti.
Mindegyik mentés felemelő, mert tudom, hogy innentől kezdve új élet vár rájuk. A legmegrázóbb emlékek között szerepelnek az autópálya-hidaknál végzett mentések, a hóviharban talált állatok, valamint azok a beteg cicák, akiket sötét, elzárt kazánházakból kellett kimenteni.
What Gives Her Strength on the Hardest Days?
The answer is simple and heartfelt:
They do. Animal rescue comes with countless sacrifices, emotional challenges, and hard physical work. But every successful recovery, every purr, and every happy adoption provides the strength to keep going.
Do You Miss the Cats After They're Adopted?
She answers this question with a smile:
I miss every single one of them. 😻
The rescued cats inevitably become part of her family, as many of them spend months—or even years—by her side. At the same time, she knows that rescue work can only continue in the long term if the cats find loving homes, making room for other animals in need.
The Message Everyone Should Hear
If there is one message that deserves to be heard by everyone, it is the importance of spaying and neutering. In Hungary, the large number of unneutered stray and free-roaming cats remains a serious problem. Uncontrolled breeding leaves thousands of kittens on the streets every year, many of them sick, hungry, or injured.
According to the foundation, spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of homeless cats and prevent their suffering in the long term.
How Can You Help?
Not everyone is able to adopt a cat, but there are many other ways to help. The Dia Cat Rescue Foundation is currently in great need of cat litter, canned food, wet food, dry food, blankets, and towels. Veterinary expenses also remain an ongoing challenge, especially while caring for so many cats.
The foundation is based in Ács, Hungary, and visitors are welcome to meet the cats in its care by prior appointment. Maps 📍
You can also drop off your donations at our downtown cat café, the Catuccino Cafe (1061 Budapest, Vasvári Pál Street 1, just off Király Street). We will make sure every donation reaches the foundation. Every donation, every share, and every adoption makes a difference. Even the smallest act of kindness can have a life-changing impact on a rescued cat.
Dia Cicamentő Alapítvány
- Bank Account Number: 10403631-50527057-77681013
- IBAN: HU07 10403631-50527057-77681013
- Revolut: @klaudihxw9
- Tax ID Number: 19397069-1-11