Muhammadiyah Issues Membership Cards for Cats in One Health Initiative
A cat in Yogyakarta named Messi has become the first pet to be issued a Muhammadiyah Membership Card (KTAM). This initiative was undertaken by Muhammadiyah as part of a broader commitment to animal welfare.
Messi’s membership card was obtained following a health examination held at the Muhammadiyah DIY Regional Leadership Building on Sunday (5/7/2026). The programme was initiated by the Health Division of the Regional Leadership of the Muhammadiyah Student Association (DPD IMM) DIY to commemorate World Zoonosis Day.
The programme reflects Muhammadiyah’s spirit of fostering care that extends beyond humans to include animal welfare. It also serves as part of a campaign for the ‘One Health’ approach, a concept that emphasises the link between human, animal, and environmental health.
This free cat health check-up was organised in collaboration with the Muhammadiyah Young Generation (AMM) DIY and involved veterinarians, Veterinary Medicine students from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Veterinary Technology students from UWS, and health cadres from the Pharmacy programmes at UGM, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD).
A total of 60 cats participated in the health examinations. All participants received services including general check-ups, consultations with veterinarians, deworming, flea treatment, supplements, and non-invasive treatments.
During the event, the Community Da’wah Institute (LDK) of the Muhammadiyah DIY Regional Leadership also launched the Muhammadiyah Cat Community (KucingMu) as a platform for da’wah (outreach) for animal lovers. The launch of KucingMu was accompanied by the issuance of the special Muhammadiyah Membership Cards (KTAM) for the cats that participated in the health check-up. This programme will serve as a basis for collecting data on Muhammadiyah members who keep pets.
The Chairman of LDK PWM DIY, Ananto Isworo, stated that KucingMu provides a new space for Muhammadiyah’s outreach to reach animal lover communities and expand the organisation’s presence in the public sphere. “We hope KucingMu can continue to grow and inspire the creation of other positive communities within the Muhammadiyah environment,” Ananto explained in a written statement.
He expressed hope that KucingMu would not only serve as a community for cat lovers but also inspire various da’wah communities that bring real benefits to society.
Messi, a 15-year-old cat belonging to the Vice Chairman of the Muhammadiyah DIY Regional Leadership, Azman Latif, became the first pet to hold a KTAM. Azman shared that the calico cat was adopted from a relative when it was approximately two months old.
“Alhamdulillah, even though it is quite old for a cat, Messi has been granted good health until now,” said Azman when contacted.
According to Azman, the name Messi was inspired by the Argentine football superstar Lionel Andres Messi. “Around 2011, Lionel Messi was at the peak of his career. My son is a fan of Messi, so that is why the cat was named Messi,” Azman explained.
“When first adopted, Messi could use the toilet without being taught, and remains consistent to this day. Whether urinating or defecating, it is all in the toilet. So, it is not a hassle,” he added.