Handmade crafts and animal welfare unite at Dhoby Ghaut pop-up to fund medical care for rescued cats
A three-day fundraising pop-up at Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station from 10 to 12 July will raise money and collect cat food donations to support the medical treatment and ongoing care of five recently rescued community cats.
- A three-day fundraising pop-up will support five rescued community cats requiring ongoing veterinary care.
- Handmade craft sales and cat food donations will directly fund medical treatment and daily care.
- The event also highlights RDPN's wider mission supporting animals with complex medical conditions.
SINGAPORE: From 10 to 12 July, between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM daily, commuters, shoppers, and animal lovers passing through Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station will find more than just another weekend market.
Tucked into Staytion Lifestyle Centre's basement unit (B1-10), a vital fundraising pop-up market will offer a unique opportunity to directly support vulnerable street animals.
The event represents a compassionate, grassroots collaboration between LoveWinterCrafts, an independent label known for its high-quality, artisanal handmade goods, and the Rare Disease Pet Network (RDPN).
Together, the two entities aim to raise urgent financial support and physical resources to manage the mounting medical expenses of five newly rescued community cats currently under their care: Macie, Misty, Trixie, Marble, and Marvin.
Each of the five cats at the centre of this pop-up arrived with injuries, illness, or the after-effects of neglect that no one else was prepared to address, and their road to recovery is far from over.
Every purchase made at the booth, and every can of cat food dropped off, goes directly towards clearing their veterinary bills, vaccinations, medication, and the day-to-day cost of keeping them alive, fed, and improving.
The Power of Craft with a Purpose
Operating under the philosophy that each of their unique, meticulously designed pieces is "handmade with love," LoveWinterCrafts has built its identity around a simple line stitched into its own branding: "We handmade each piece with love, for cats who have no one else."
The upcoming market is not the first time the organisers have mobilized the community through creative commerce; the label functions as a social enterprise where retail directly drives rescue work.
By channeling proceeds from its handmade, cat-themed crafts, accessories, and lifestyle pieces entirely into the care of stray, rescue, and community cats, every sale is positioned as a direct act of welfare.
Ultimately, every purchase of a handmade item at the pop-up directly translates into vital funding for critical medical interventions, surgeries, veterinary consultations, and the daily nourishment of cats that have no one else to rely on.
The enterprise marked a major milestone on 16 November 2025, when it officially announced its transition toward becoming a formal non-profit entity.
This evolution birthed the Rare Disease Pet Network (RDPN).
Recognising a significant gap in the local animal welfare ecosystem, RDPN was established to develop long-term, sustainable support structures for animals suffering from complex medical conditions.
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Beyond direct rescue, the network is dedicated to supporting pet owners navigating rare animal diseases, facilitating knowledge exchanges between veterinary specialists, and championing broader animal-care causes, including advocating for compassionate leave for pet owners.
The Heart of the Story: Meet the Five Rescues
The urgency of this weekend's pop-up is driven by the heavy financial demands of treating five new feline rescues taken in over the last two months: Macie, Misty, Trixie, Marble, and Marvin.
While all five came from difficult street environments and have successfully undergone essential sterilisation, their paths to full recovery vary wildly, leaving organisers with rapidly accumulating veterinary bills.
Following her routine sterilisation, Trixie suffered a severe, complex allergic reaction to her stitches.
This reaction triggered an aggressive internal infection, forcing veterinarians to perform an emergency procedure to drain fluid from her abdomen.
Unfortunately, the fluid has quickly reaccumulated, meaning she faces further imminent surgical or medical intervention.
Meanwhile, Misty remains in a fragile and highly complex medical state.
Severe and prolonged malnutrition during her time on the streets has significantly affected her kidneys and liver, requiring close medical monitoring. If her organs do not show signs of stabilisation during upcoming reviews, she will require immediate hospitalisation.
Providing a much-needed silver lining to the rescue group, both Marvin and Marble are recovering exceptionally well from their respective sterilisations. They are currently active, doing great, and undergoing crucial socialization programmes to prepare them for eventual adoption.
Finally, Macie relies entirely on the funds generated from this pop-up to clear her baseline veterinary checks, routine vaccinations, and ongoing daily care costs as she begins her transition into foster care.
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A Legacy of Fighting for Every Life
The dedication of RDPN to take on complex medical cases is underscored by their history with past rescues.
The network recently mourned the loss of Mocha, a brave cat diagnosed with a terminal heart condition and given only three months to live.
Backed by community donations, Mocha defied the odds for over a year, growing into an adored adult before crossing the rainbow bridge.
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The team also regularly steps in during sudden emergencies, such as recently rushing a community cat named Marshmallow to emergency care after he presented with high fevers and excessive drooling—a diagnostic intervention that instantly incurred a minimum baseline estimate of S$500.
It is this unwavering commitment to emergency and chronic care that makes their medical fund replenishment so critical.
Credibility Built on Proven Community Support
The organisers are no strangers to navigating the logistics of independent fundraising.
They have established transparency and a strong local track record through previous initiatives, including a multi-week retail presence at Suntec City (headquartered near Din Tai Fung, Godiva, and Don Don Donki) and a grassroots community showcase at the PA RN's Lunar New Year Event behind Bedok South Secondary School.
While past events have occasionally faced slow periods where covering venue rental costs became a challenge, the organizers note that the overwhelming kindness of the Singaporean public has consistently rallied to save their initiatives, turning quiet booth days into successful fundraising milestones.
How You Can Help This Weekend
There are multiple ways for members of the public to participate in giving these five cats the second chance they deserve.
Visitors can browse and purchase the unique selection of handmade crafts provided by LoveWinterCrafts.
For those who wish to contribute physical resources, the team is actively seeking cat food donations to keep their fosters well-fed.
The rescues especially enjoy Aixia, Aristo, or Finesse canned wet food, though any brand of quality dry cat food or kibble is greatly appreciated.
To thank the community for this hands-on support, the organisers have prepared a specially crafted, exclusive little gift for every individual who drops off physical cat food donations at the booth during the three-day event.
Those unable to attend in person can also contribute via direct payment to the cats' veterinary provider or through the organisers' donation QR code, both previously shared on LoveWinterCrafts' Instagram.
Event details:
- Venue: Staytion Lifestyle Centre, B1-10, Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station
- Dates: 10–12 July 2026
- Time: 11am – 4pm daily
Whether you stop by to shop for a unique piece of handmade art, drop off a few cans of wet food, or simply pause to read the rescue stories of Macie, Misty, Trixie, Marble, and Marvin, your presence helps ensure that Singapore's rarest and most vulnerable animal lives are never forgotten.
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