The Cat Clinic Returns to Gili Air

Cat Clinic Gili Air | Luni Lombok

A Pawsitive Impact: The Cat Clinic Returns to Gili Air

April 13–21: A Week Dedicated to Feline Health and Island Well-being

Gili Air, a tranquil island known for its sandy paths, crystal-clear waters, and barefoot lifestyle, is also home to a thriving community of animals—particularly cats. Anyone who has visited this island will remember the furry companions lounging at warungs, basking in the sun on diving boats, or weaving through the legs of restaurant guests in the evenings.

But behind the charm of island cats lies an ongoing challenge: managing their health and population humanely and sustainably. This April, Oceans 5 Gili Air is proud to once again host the LUNI Lombok Cat Clinic from the 13th to the 21st, supporting a vital initiative that benefits not only the animals but the entire island community.

A Collaboration for Compassion

Oceans 5 Gili Air, a PADI Career Development Centre and dive resort, has long stood for more than just high-quality scuba training. With a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and community support, Oceans 5 actively engages in conservation projects and social initiatives on the island. The partnership with LUNI Lombok, a non-profit animal welfare organization, is a shining example of this ethos in action.

LUNI Lombok aims to help as many animals as it can on the Gili Islands of Indonesia by providing medical care, vaccinations, parasite control, and sterilization. Their mobile clinics, especially the ones brought to Gili Air, are an essential part of the solution to the overpopulation and disease transmission challenges facing the local cat population.

Each time the LUNI team visits, they bring with them not just veterinary expertise but a wave of compassion and education that helps reshape how the island sees and treats its animals.

Oceans 5’s Role: More Than a Dive Centre

For the duration of the clinic, Oceans 5 Gili Air offers both of its classrooms to LUNI Lombok to ensure the team has the space and facilities needed to carry out their work efficiently. These classrooms, usually reserved for teaching diving physics, dive planning, and rescue theory, transform into temporary veterinary consultation and surgical rooms.

This is not the first time Oceans 5 has offered its support. The dive center has long been a vocal advocate for responsible animal welfare on the island. By donating space, assisting with logistics, and promoting the clinic to the wider community, Oceans 5 becomes a bridge between the veterinary volunteers and the residents of Gili Air.

"We believe in giving back," says a representative from Oceans 5. "Whether it’s the ocean or our furry friends on land, we have a responsibility to protect and care for the environment and all its inhabitants."

What Services Are Offered at the Clinic?

The LUNI Lombok Cat Clinic offers a wide range of free or donation-based services to help keep the cat population healthy and under control:

• Vaccinations – including rabies, which is essential in preventing outbreaks that could threaten both animal and human lives.
• Parasite Control – deworming and flea/tick treatment to protect cats and prevent cross-species transmission.
• Sterilization/Neutering – one of the most important aspects of the clinic. By neutering male cats and spaying females, the clinic prevents unwanted litters and helps control the population humanely.
• Basic Medical Care – for cats suffering from wounds, infections, or skin conditions.
• Health Checks – general consultations and medical advice for cat owners.

This combination of preventive and reactive care is crucial on an island like Gili Air, where veterinary resources are limited, and transportation to mainland clinics can be complicated and expensive.

Why Gili Air Needs a Regular Cat Clinic

Visitors often fall in love with the island’s cats, seeing them as a charming part of the tropical atmosphere. But behind the adorable photos is a serious issue. Gili Air, like many tropical islands, struggles with the overpopulation of stray and semi-domesticated cats.

Without regular health care and sterilization, the cat population can grow uncontrollably, leading to suffering for the animals and potential health risks for humans. Overcrowding leads to fights, infections, malnutrition, and the spread of diseases such as feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and even rabies.

A lack of resources means many local residents struggle to afford veterinary care, even if they want to help. That's where the mobile clinics make all the difference. They remove financial and logistical barriers, providing accessible and professional care that wouldn’t otherwise be available.

By running regular clinics, LUNI Lombok and Oceans 5 Gili Air help keep the cat population in check, reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, and improve the overall quality of life—for both animals and humans.

A Community Effort

One of the most powerful aspects of the clinic is how it brings the community together. Locals, expats, and tourists all play a role. Some bring in cats for treatment. Others volunteer to help with logistics. Many donate to support the initiative.

There are also plenty of behind-the-scenes efforts: preparing the classrooms, cleaning, assisting with paperwork, translating between Bahasa Indonesia and English, and spreading awareness across the island.

For residents who can’t bring their cats directly, volunteers often help trap community cats and bring them to the clinic for treatment and sterilization before safely returning them to their home territories. It’s a humane solution to a long-standing problem.

Education and Empowerment

Beyond the immediate medical care, the clinic also serves as an educational opportunity. Many locals are unaware of the importance of vaccinations or the benefits of sterilization. By offering a welcoming environment where questions can be asked and answered, the LUNI team empowers pet owners with the knowledge they need to take better care of their animals long after the clinic ends.

This kind of outreach has ripple effects. Children grow up seeing the importance of treating animals with kindness and care. Pet owners feel supported instead of judged. And the island culture slowly shifts toward one that values animal welfare as part of a healthy, sustainable community.

How to Participate

The LUNI Cat Clinic is open from April 13 to 21 at Oceans 5 Gili Air. If you’re on the island and have a cat that needs treatment or neutering, simply stop by the dive shop for more information.

No appointments are necessary, but you may be asked to wait depending on how busy the clinic is. Services are either free or donation-based, and every rupiah goes back into supporting future clinics and animal welfare programs.

Can’t bring a cat in yourself? You can still contribute:

• Donate – Monetary donations help cover the cost of medicines, surgical supplies, and food for the cats.
• Volunteer – Help with cleaning, carrying cats, interpreting, or simply offering moral support.
• Spread the Word – Let friends and neighbors know that the clinic is in session.
• Adopt or Foster – Sometimes the team encounters kittens or injured cats that need long-term care. If you can offer a temporary or permanent home, your help is incredibly valuable.

A Long-Term Vision for a Healthier Island

Oceans 5 Gili Air and LUNI Lombok share a common vision: a healthier, happier, and more balanced environment for both humans and animals. Hosting regular cat clinics is one piece of a larger puzzle that includes marine conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable tourism.

By tackling land-based issues like animal overpopulation, Oceans 5 strengthens its role as a holistic conservation hub—not just protecting the coral reefs and marine species but also making sure the land-based ecosystem stays in harmony.

This initiative also highlights the importance of working hand-in-hand with local communities. True change doesn’t come from outside organizations swooping in with solutions. It comes from partnerships, from listening to the needs of the community, and from empowering locals to be part of the solution.

A Thank You to LUNI Lombok

LUNI Lombok’s work is tireless and deeply impactful. The organization runs on donations, passion, and a small but dedicated team of animal lovers. Their visits to Gili Air are made possible only through the generosity of donors and the logistical support of local partners like Oceans 5.

Without their mobile clinics, many cats would go without care. Without their education efforts, myths and misunderstandings would persist. Without their volunteers, countless animals would suffer unnecessarily.

So to the team at LUNI Lombok: thank you. Your work is appreciated more than words can express. And to every person on Gili Air who brings in a cat, donates, volunteers, or simply helps spread the message—you are making a real difference.

Looking Ahead

As the current clinic continues through April 21, there’s hope that its success will inspire more frequent and more expansive visits in the future. Gili Air is a special place—a small island with a big heart. And it’s clear that the people who live here, and those who love it from afar, want the best for all its residents, human and animal alike.

With continued collaboration between organizations like LUNI Lombok and Oceans 5 Gili Air, that vision is within reach.

So if you hear a meow near the harbor this week, it might just be a cat on its way to a better life—thanks to you.