Catsoterra

TNR · Do No Harm · Transparency

Our Team

Dedicated individuals working together for the welfare of Malaysia's street cats.

Our Story

Catsoterra began with a shared dream: to change how Malaysia cares for its street cats. What started as a small group of passionate individuals quickly grew into a dedicated team, united by a belief in structured, humane, and sustainable TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

Our members may be spread across continents — from the streets of Penang to homes in the United States — but distance doesn’t divide us. Whether on the ground trapping, coordinating vet care, designing systems, or sharing our mission with the world, every member works just as hard toward the same goal: healthier cats, balanced colonies, and a future where compassion drives every action.

This is more than just our work. It’s our calling.

Daniel Lok Chin Leung

Co-Founder / CEO

Daniel Leung began by founding Cats Of Penang, a small grassroots initiative that quickly grew in scale and responsibility. As the work expanded, it evolved into Catsoterra — where Daniel now serves as a co-founder — built with one goal in mind: to create something that can truly last.

After years of helping animals in personal and informal ways, he realized that compassion alone wasn’t enough. Real, lasting change would require structure, sustainability, and a clear, long-term purpose.

Catsoterra was never meant to be a reaction — it was designed to be a solution. From the very beginning, the mission was to create a model that didn’t depend on constant fundraising or crisis-driven appeals, but instead empowered the community through education, partnerships, and service. Whether building a TNR program from the ground up or advocating for fair, humane treatment of animals, every step reflects the belief that strong systems allow good people to do great work.

Daniel is not a career nonprofit executive. He is a respiratory therapist, a student, and someone who saw a gap in the current ecosystem and chose to act. What started as a simple, heartfelt effort has transformed into a focused mission to make animal welfare more accessible, more transparent, and more accountable — not just for today, but for the future.

For him, Catsoterra isn’t only about helping cats. It is about proving that with the right care, planning, and heart, you can build something that truly matters.

Julia Hannah Binti Zulkifli

Co-Founder

Julia’s journey into animal welfare didn’t begin with passion — it began with apathy. For years, she viewed the struggles of stray animals as an unfortunate but unchangeable part of the system. That changed the day a sick black mother cat appeared in her home compound with her equally fragile kittens. The kittens did not survive, but the mother did — and caring for her forever altered the course of Julia’s life.

In that painful moment, she found purpose. She saw God’s guidance in the resilience of that cat, and over time, she transformed from someone who felt powerless within the system into someone determined to change it. She rescued countless cats from the streets, often without the means or resources to sustain their care — but she learned, adapted, and grew with every challenge.

Julia’s evolution reflects a wider truth: anyone can change, anyone can grow, and anyone can rise to meet the needs of their community. What began as a single act of compassion has shaped her into not only a co-founder of Catsoterra, but also a committed advocate for transparency, humane treatment, and long-term solutions in Malaysian animal welfare.

Despite her youth, she embodies the adaptive Malaysian spirit — resilient, driven, and unwilling to give up on what matters. Becoming one of Malaysia’s youngest co-founders of a CLBG is no small achievement; it is a testament to her heart, her discipline, and her belief that meaningful change is possible.

Johnny Trogdon

CMO / North American Liaison

Although based in North America, Ricky has become one of Catsoterra’s strongest advocates, helping connect supporters around the world to the organization’s mission in Penang.

Today, Ricky serves as Chief Marketing Officer and North American Liaison, leading Catsoterra’s communications, storytelling, and global outreach efforts. Drawing on years of leadership, management, and organizational experience, he helps translate the organization’s impact into compelling narratives that inspire volunteers, supporters, and partners to get involved.

From social media campaigns and content strategy to public relations and brand development, Ricky plays a key role in expanding Catsoterra’s reach while helping showcase the innovative systems that power its work. His focus on transparency, community engagement, and mission-driven storytelling helps connect people around the world to the cats of Penang and the volunteers working tirelessly to improve their lives.

Beyond marketing, Ricky contributes to the organization’s long-term growth by helping shape strategic initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and identify new opportunities to advance Catsoterra’s mission. His ability to combine big-picture thinking with authentic storytelling helps ensure that every campaign, partnership, and milestone serves a greater purpose.

No matter the distance, Ricky remains committed to helping Catsoterra grow its impact, strengthen its voice, and build a future where compassionate, technology-driven animal welfare can thrive.

Jonas Breuer

CTO / Systems Architect

For many years, Jonas believed cats were completely indifferent to him — until a chance encounter during a trip to Mauritius changed his life forever. He has been a dedicated cat person ever since. After cat-sitting around the world, he wanted to channel his professional skills as a web developer into animal welfare, only to be frustrated by how slowly most traditional organizations adopted modern technology.

When planning his move to Penang, Jonas discovered Catsoterra and was immediately intrigued by its unique, tech-first approach. As our Chief Technology Officer and Systems Architect, he is building the digital infrastructure that enables our team to operate efficiently and scale transparently. He designs and implements the database systems, map features, and admin dashboards that allow the team to track and manage our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiatives in real time.

Whether designing robust systems behind his screen or helping cats directly on the ground, Jonas brings a rare blend of technical expertise and hands-on compassion. He is just as passionate about writing elegant code as he is about getting his hands dirty trapping and transporting street cats. His work ensures that Catsoterra’s technology is always scaling to meet the needs of Penang's street cats.

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