The Newest Development on Gili Air: A Safe Haven for Island Cats – The LUNI Lombok Cat Clinic
The Newest Development on Gili Air: A Safe Haven for Island Cats
The tranquil island of Gili Air is often praised for its white sand beaches, welcoming locals, and laid-back atmosphere—but beneath the postcard-perfect surface lies a growing movement of sustainability, community care, and compassion. In the past few weeks, this movement reached a new milestone with the official opening of the first-ever cat clinic on Gili Air, a project initiated and operated by LUNI Lombok.
This heartwarming development adds to an already exciting string of changes on the island, including the introduction of a glass crusher machine to produce eco-friendly building bricks, and the establishment of a new bicycle parking area near the harbor to improve road safety and organization. But this time, it’s the island’s animals—specifically its feline residents—that are at the center of attention.
Let’s take a closer look at what this new cat clinic means for Gili Air, the long-term vision of LUNI Lombok, and how you can get involved to support this vital cause.
The Birth of the Cat Clinic on Gili Air
Until recently, animal welfare efforts on Gili Air were primarily event-based. LUNI Lombok, a nonprofit organization committed to animal welfare across the Gili Islands and Lombok, would host pop-up cat clinics several times a year. These events, offering neutering, vaccinations, and medical care, were always welcomed by both locals and foreign residents alike.
However, it became increasingly clear that temporary efforts weren’t enough. The need for continuous, reliable veterinary care—especially for street cats—grew urgent. The solution? A permanent, fully functioning cat clinic right here on Gili Air.
Located behind the Burrito Project and near Kantor Desa, the new cat clinic is modest but well-equipped. It includes:
- A consultation room where sick or injured animals can be assessed and treated,
- A surgery room for sterilizations and minor operations,
- A recovery area where cats can rest and regain their strength post-treatment.
While the clinic is still in its startup phase and formal opening hours are yet to be finalized, operations are expected to run smoothly in the coming weeks. Once fully operational, it will be a lifeline for stray cats across the island—and hopefully, one day, for animals across all three Gilis.
Why This Clinic Matters
The opening of this clinic is more than just a local improvement. It represents a shift in community mindset, highlighting the importance of coexisting with animals in a compassionate, responsible way. For years, street cats on the Gilis have lived in unpredictable and sometimes unsafe conditions. Many suffer from malnutrition, parasites, or untreated injuries. With this new clinic, help is now just around the corner.
LUNI Lombok is a grassroots movement with a big heart and a big vision. Their mission isn’t just about cats—it’s about building a sustainable, ethical, and supportive environment for all animals on the Gilis. And they’ve mapped out a clear roadmap to get there.
LUNI Lombok’s Long-Term Goals
1. Food, Water, and Shelter
Every animal deserves the basics—food, clean water, and a safe space to rest. One of the main missions of LUNI Lombok is to ensure that no animal goes hungry or thirsty, and that basic shelter and compassion are available across the island. Whether through donations, community food stations, or partnerships with local businesses, this goal is already being acted upon daily.
2. Sterilisation and Vaccination
Uncontrolled reproduction among the island’s street cats has led to a boom in population—and with that, more mouths to feed, more illnesses to treat, and more suffering. LUNI Lombok aims to sterilize and vaccinate 80% of the stray cat population across all three Gili Islands through both the permanent Gili Air clinic and pop-up Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs.
Sterilization not only helps control the population but reduces aggressive behavior, territorial fights, and the spread of infectious diseases. Vaccination protects both the animals and humans from preventable illnesses.
3. Veterinary Care
From skin infections to respiratory diseases, injuries from accidents, or digestive issues from scavenging spoiled food, the range of health problems street cats face is vast. The cat clinic on Gili Air will provide daily access to vet care, ensuring treatment is not just a luxury for owned pets but a right for all animals—street cats included.
But it doesn’t stop with cats. LUNI Lombok also provides mobile veterinary care, extending help to dogs, turtles, and even wildlife such as snakes that may be injured or displaced.
4. Rescue and Rehabilitation
Beyond cats and dogs, the Gili Islands are home to a variety of species, from birds to reptiles. LUNI Lombok plans to expand its rescue and rehabilitation efforts to include wildlife in distress. Whether it’s a sea turtle caught in fishing line or a snake stuck in a village garden, the goal is to protect, rehabilitate, and if possible, return the animal to its natural habitat.
5. Education and Community Engagement
Lasting change doesn’t come from one clinic or one team. It comes from a community that understands the value of compassion. LUNI Lombok is passionate about educating locals, visitors, and school children on how to care for animals properly. They also run initiatives like the Cat Café, where cats can be fostered in a relaxing environment while raising awareness and adoption interest.
How You Can Help – Be a Cat Superhero!
This movement can’t survive without its superheroes—and that’s where you come in.
🌟 Get Involved
LUNI Lombok’s success depends on support from animal lovers both near and far. Whether you live on Gili Air or are just visiting, there are plenty of ways to contribute. From helping at the clinic to spreading the word online, every bit of support counts. Email [email protected] to see how you can help today.
💸 Donations
Every rupiah makes a difference. Donations help cover the cost of:
- Veterinary supplies
- Food and water
- Shelter maintenance
- Emergency surgeries
- Outreach and education
If you’re in a position to help financially, your donation will be directly channelled to saving lives on the Gili Islands.
🧴 Medical Supplies Wishlist
Planning a trip to the Gilis? Check LUNI Lombok’s medical wishlist and see if you can bring any supplies with you. Items like antiseptic, flea treatment, gloves, cat food, or syringes can be expensive or hard to source locally. Your contribution, no matter how small, will go a long way.
🐱 Foster a Cat
Sometimes a cat just needs a little extra love. Whether they are recovering from surgery or simply need socialization, fostering provides a safe and loving environment for cats to heal and thrive.
If you have time, patience, and love to give, please consider becoming a foster parent. It’s one of the most rewarding ways to contribute—and you might just fall in love with a new feline friend.
Interested? Simply fill out the fostering questionnaire at the clinic or contact the LUNI Lombok team online.
A Bigger Picture: Gili Air’s Sustainability Shift
The cat clinic is not an isolated improvement—it’s part of a greater wave of sustainability and responsibility sweeping across Gili Air.
♻️ Glass Crusher & Eco Bricks
In June 2024, Gili Cares received a donation to install a glass crushing machine. Now, with the right permits in place, glass bottles are transformed into eco bricks, made with a blend of sand, cement, and crushed glass. These bricks are twice the size of normal ones and ideal for local construction projects.
This initiative is helping to reduce the massive stockpile of discarded bottles and repurpose waste into a valuable construction material—reducing shipping costs, emissions, and landfill overflow.
🚲 New Bicycle Parking Area
Another recent upgrade is the creation of a dedicated bicycle parking area in the harbor, next to Oceans 5 Gili Air. With more and more tourists and locals using bicycles, the roads near the harbor were becoming dangerously congested. Horse carts couldn’t pass, accidents were on the rise, and the arrival area looked chaotic.
Now, with structured paid parking (IDR 3,000 per day), the streets are safer, horses are better protected, and tourists arriving on the island are greeted by an organized, peaceful setting.
These efforts reflect a collective goal: to make Gili Air a model for sustainable, safe, and compassionate island living.
The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Gili Air?
With the momentum from these recent developments, it’s clear that Gili Air is evolving—not by losing its charm, but by enriching its soul.
The cat clinic by LUNI Lombok is a symbol of this progress: a small space with a huge heart, representing a commitment to kindness, care, and community action.
As the clinic becomes more established, we can expect:
- Regular opening hours
- More veterinary visits
- Pop-up TNR days across the island
- Increased community education
- Volunteer programs for tourists and locals alike
It’s a beginning—a beautiful, necessary one.
Final Thoughts
Gili Air is changing, and it’s not just about better infrastructure or cleaner beaches—it’s about how we care for all who live here, humans and animals alike.
The launch of the LUNI Lombok Cat Clinic marks a new chapter in island compassion. Alongside eco-conscious innovations like the glass brick project and improved harbor parking, the clinic shows what’s possible when locals, expats, and travelers come together with one goal: to make the island a better place for everyone.
So next time you walk past the Burrito Project or cycle through the harbor, remember: a small clinic is quietly doing life-saving work, one cat at a time. And if you’re wondering how you can help—donate, foster, volunteer, or simply spread the word.
The cats of Gili Air thank you.
Get Involved LUNI Lombok’s success depends on the support of many cat super heroes. Get involved now and help put the smiles back on the faces of disadvantaged street cats. Email: [email protected]
Donations Your support goes a long way towards the animals of the Gili Islands! Your donation will be channeled to providing food, clean water, and medical care for street cats and wildlife.
Medical Supplies Wishlist Your support helps us provide life-saving care for the animals of the Gili Islands! If you’re visiting and can source any supplies, we would be so grateful.
Fostering We need help fostering cats when they are unwell. Shower them with love, help them socialize, and ensure they return to full health. If you would like to foster with us, please fill in the fostering questionnaire available at the clinic or online.