The Male’ City Council has announced progress on the cat shelter being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare. Currently, fishing works are underway at the site, which aims to address the growing population of stray cats in Male’.

Aminath Shathufa, spokesperson for the Council, shared that a significant portion of the shelter, including the office compartment and cat cages, has been completed. Additional facilities are also being constructed in the area of the shelter that features trees. “The finishing works at the cat shelter are mostly being undertaken at present,” she noted.

Although the project commenced on March 19, 2024, the Council has not disclosed a completion date or when the relocation of stray cats will begin. Earlier, Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim had indicated plans to start relocating stray cats to the new facility in May, but those plans have not yet materialized.

The shelter will occupy a 5,000-square-foot land plot at Farukolhufushi and is intended to operate 24/7. Mayor Azim has previously highlighted the challenges posed by the large stray cat population, which is expected to reach up to 3,000. He noted incidents of residents encountering cat feces, particularly near mosques, emphasizing the urgent need for the shelter.

As the project progresses, the Male’ City Council aims to improve the living conditions for both residents and the stray cat population.