Construction has officially commenced on a new cat shelter in Hulhumale', a joint initiative between the Male' City Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday, marking the beginning of physical works on the facility located at Hulhumale' Farukolhufushi.

Male' City Mayor Adam Azim, speaking at the inauguration ceremony, outlined the scope of the initial works, stating that the focus is currently on installing the perimeter fence, with completion expected within the next 20 days. 

He further revealed that construction on the main building is scheduled to commence the following week.

The aim of the project is to complete the development of the facility within the next two months and facilitate the relocation of stray cats from Male' City to the shelter. 

Azim emphasized the importance of neutering the cats and providing them with a suitable living environment in the new facility.

Highlighting the collaborative effort between the government and local authorities, Azim confirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare will oversee all technical aspects of the project, while the Male' City Council will manage the physical construction.

Spanning across 5,000 square feet of land, the cat shelter will operate around the clock to accommodate and care for stray cats in the greater Male' area.

The initiative aims to address the issue of the burgeoning stray cat population, previously estimated by Azim to be around 3,000.

With construction underway and a clear timeline in place, the development of the cat shelter signifies a proactive step towards mitigating the challenges associated with stray animals and fostering a more compassionate approach to animal welfare in the Maldives.