Saudi Arabian authorities have set up street pipes to provide food and water to stray cats in Ha'il, north-western Saudi Arabia.

According to an online video, the pipes were painted with cat foot shapes and fitted to walls. Cats are seen feeding on the provided food. The initiative was launched by the city’s mayoralty.

Online admirers have called for the humanitarian gesture to be generalized throughout Saudi Arabia.

A commentator said, "This is a cheerful matter implying a lot of mercy for these beautiful creatures.".

One advocated introducing the initiative in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

“It’s a brilliant idea. Better than throwing food on the sidewalk," said a third commentator.

H'ail does not have official figures on the number of stray cats.

Saudi Arabia has recently become interested in cat care.

Riyadh opened its first five-star hotel for cats in August 2022, where owners can leave them for hours or days while still monitoring their health using a smartphone app.

A cat that had been stuck in a house's sanitation pipe for 10 days was freed by rescuers in Riyadh last July.

A team from the Riyadh mayoralty and volunteers assisted in the rescue.

After local authorities were alerted that the cat was stuck in the pipe, the 240-hour rescue was carried out.

In the end, the feline was rescued and handed over to a person who expressed an interest in caring for it.

Princess Modi bint Fahd, chairwoman of the Saudi Animal Welfare Society, thanked the Riyadh mayoralty for freeing the cat. Known as Refq, the Society has announced the cat will be named Amana, Arabic for both mayoralty and trust, in appreciation of the Riyadh mayoralty's assistance.