Prof. Dr. Ian Rouse
CAMBODIA
The views expressed in this contribution are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Noble Alliance Association.
A Man Behind a Vision: The Power of the Bond
About the UP Cat Club
The UP Cat Club is a newly formed organization at the University of Puthisastra (UP) that brings together students, staff, and faculty who care deeply about animal welfare. The club was established to support the wellbeing of the cats that share the university campus, reflecting UP’s belief that a caring environment creates a stronger and more compassionate learning space.
The club works in partnership with the Phnom Penh Animal Welfare Society (PPAWS) to implement a humane and responsible approach to managing the campus cat population. Recent efforts include providing free spay and neuter procedures, full health checks, and vaccinations for the cats. Through these initiatives, the UP Cat Club aims to improve the health of the feline community while fostering a kinder, calmer environment for all students and staff.
The Portrait
Q. Professor Rouse, before we talk about the UP Cat Club itself, could you share the personal and professional experiences that shaped your understanding of wellbeing—and ultimately led to this initiative?
A. Before becoming President of the University of Puthisastra, my professional life was shaped by healthcare, education, and leadership in complex systems. What has remained constant, however, is an awareness that institutions are not only defined by their structures or outcomes, but by the human experience within them.
In my personal life — from childhood, to parenthood, and now as a grandparent — dogs and cats have always been part of our family. They were loving, caring, quietly supportive, and simply part of everyday life.
Over many years working in healthcare and higher education, I repeatedly observed that wellbeing is often shaped not by grand interventions, but by small, steady sources of calm, connection, and meaning. Animals — quietly, consistently — were often part of that picture. They did not “fix” distress, but they softened it. They grounded people. They reminded us of care without conditions.
"Animals offer something rare in modern academic life: non-judgmental companionship that interrupts cycles of anxiety in a gentle, almost imperceptible way."
The Spark
Q. What was the initial moment or observation on campus that made you realise the cats already had a meaningful place within the university community?”
A. There was no single dramatic moment that sparked the UP Cat Club. Rather, it emerged from recognising something that was already present — and already meaningful — within our campus community. The University of Puthisastra campus is home to approximately fifteen resident cats. They arrived gradually, informally, as they often do in warm, human environments. Students and staff began to notice them, care for them, talk about them. Some gave them names; others simply recognised them as familiar presences — waiting in shaded corners, sleeping on chairs and tables, appearing during stressful exam periods, or quietly accompanying late-night study sessions.
What struck me was not just that the cats were there, but how people related to them. Students spoke of them as sources of comfort. Staff noticed moments of gentleness and pause in otherwise pressured days. The cats had, in a sense, already found their place.
Giving them “importance” was not about elevating animals above people. It was about acknowledging an existing bond and ensuring that it was humane, safe, responsible, and sustainable — for both the cats and the university community.
The Bond as Remedy: Mental Health and Coexistence - The Power of Animals
Q. How do you see the presence of animals contributing to mental wellbeing on campus, particularly as a form of support rather than clinical intervention?
A. I believe the presence of animals can be beneficial within a university environment. Not as therapy in a clinical sense, and certainly not as a replacement for professional mental health services — but as a supportive presence.
Animals offer something rare in modern academic life: non-judgmental companionship. They do not assess performance, deadlines, or status. For students under pressure, especially those far from family and home, these moments of quiet connection can be grounding. A cat sleeping nearby, or briefly accepting attention, can interrupt cycles of anxiety in a gentle, almost imperceptible way.
There is increasing global recognition of this — from comfort dog programs to trauma-informed animal-assisted initiatives. Our approach at UP is careful and evidence-aware: we speak of wellbeing support, not cures. Presence, not prescription.
The Impact
Q. What changes have you observed on campus since the cats were formally recognised, particularly in terms of community responsibility and wellbeing?
A. Since formally recognising the cats and establishing the UP Cat Club, the atmosphere on campus has subtly but noticeably shifted. Conversations about responsibility, kindness, and care have increased. Students and staff have stepped forward not only to help animals, but to organise, volunteer, and lead together.
Importantly, formal recognition has also allowed us to address concerns proactively: hygiene, safety, public health, and coordination. What was once informal or hidden is now thoughtful and structured — reducing risk while preserving warmth.
"Compassion without public health responsibility is incomplete; humane treatment must go hand in hand with safety, expertise, and professionalism."
Organization: Turning Empathy into Structure Institutionalisation
Q. How did the UP Cat Club translate compassion for animals into a structured, responsible program that benefits both students and the campus community?
A. The UP Cat Club is a staff- and student-led initiative established to improve the welfare of campus cats while contributing positively to student wellbeing and community engagement.
Its message is simple but deliberate: compassion must be matched with responsibility. Caring intentions alone are not enough. Ethical action requires structure, boundaries, education, and partnerships.
The Club focuses on:
Education and awareness
Responsible feeding and safe spaces
Student leadership and engagement
Fundraising for welfare activities
Collaboration with professional animal welfare organisations
Equally important is what the Club does not do: it does not independently treat, rescue, or rehome animals, and it does not act outside university governance. These boundaries protect both students and animals.
Scientific Backing and Public Health
Q. Why is partnering with a professional organisation like PPAWS essential for ensuring both animal welfare and public health on campus?
A. Our partnership with the Phnom Penh Animal Welfare Society (PPAWS), a respected veterinary and animal welfare organisation, is central to this approach. Vaccinations — particularly for rabies — sterilisation, and professional assessment are not optional extras; they are essential.
This partnership sends a clear message: compassion without public health responsibility is incomplete. Humane treatment of animals must go hand in hand with safety, expertise, and professionalism. Working with qualified veterinarians ensures that animal welfare initiatives enhance — rather than compromise — the wellbeing of the wider community. Moreover, working with a trusted veterinary organisation ensures that compassion never outpaces competence.
The Future: “The Cats of Puthisastra”
Q. Looking ahead, how do you envision the UP Cat Club fostering reflection, creativity, and learning about empathy and coexistence on campus?
A. We see the UP Cat Club not as a finished project, but as a growing conversation. One upcoming initiative is a student-led video and creative arts competition, inviting students to tell stories about the cats, about compassion, and about coexistence.
The goal is not fundraising, nor promotion for its own sake. It is reflection — encouraging students to observe, document, and think critically about the relationships between humans, animals, and shared spaces. Through storytelling, students learn empathy, ethics, and responsibility — skills as important as any technical knowledge.
"The alliance between humans and animals is noble not because they exist to serve us, but because they remind us who we are capable of being."
A Noble Alliance
Q. Do you see the human–animal bond on campus as a ‘Noble Alliance,’ and why?
A. Is the alliance between humans and animals a Noble Alliance? I believe it is — not because animals exist to serve us, but because they remind us who we are capable of being.
Animals have accompanied humanity through trauma, recovery, and resilience long before we had language for PTSD or wellbeing. In moments of instability — personal or societal — they often remain steady, present, and grounding.
At the University of Puthisastra, our cats do not carry banners or policies. Yet, in their quiet way, they help shape a campus culture rooted in care, patience, and shared responsibility. And that, to me, is where impact truly begins.
Post Scriptum
In a rather thrilling turn of events, Noble Alliance has just been informed of the arrival on campus of a dog named BoBo! It is wonderful to imagine that the cats’ engagement may have paved the way for other animals to make their mark on campus life. In the meantime, one cannot help but speculate what manner of admission test the cats might have devised for any prospective canine members of their club — but we are most confident that BoBo will impress them all!
Bonds in Action
