More cats taken to shelter amid rising reports of abuse

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has started taking in more cats to Olhu Hiyaa due to rising complaints regarding the increasing number of strays and the following cat abuse on the streets of the capital city Male’.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry noted that while a growing number of cats are found in various parts of Male’, it causes inconvenience to residents and pedestrians. Furthermore, this contradicts the principles of animal welfare in international conventions, specifically in relation to ensuring the well-being of animals.

The circular issued by the ministry states that the definition of animal health is the five internationally recognized freedoms of animals.

1. Freedom from hunger, thirst, and starvation.
2. Freedom from fear, anxiety, and worry.
3. Freedom from physical discomfort.
4. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease.
5. Freedom from obstacles to habitual animal behavior.

The Ministry further stated that the Maldives is a signatory to international animal welfare conventions, emphasizing the importance of animal welfare under the World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. Therefore, measures are being taken to ensure the welfare of the animals used in activities related to entertainment, fishing, research, and other purposes.

The Olhu Hiyaa facility was taken over by the Ministry of Animal Welfare on February 26 this year.

Fifteen cats were admitted to the facility that day. Cats were not taken-in to the facility for several months after, raising public concern and criticism of the ministry. Since then, 30 more cats have been taken to the facility in April.

As cat admittance to the shelter was slow, public complaints about stray cats rose. The increase in stray cats on Male’s streets led to more complaints, concern that no one was taking responsibility in addressing the issue. 

Since then, complaints of cats going missing on the streets of the city were voiced on social media in June. The ministry requested the assistance of the police on June 23 to investigate the case.