Stray cat team to be set up at St Vincent de Paul residence

Meeting between Animal Guardians Malta, Animal rights commissioner and St Vincent de Paul Residence administration outlines new rules for the treatment of stray cats at the residence

A SCAN (Stray Cat Action Network) team is to be set up, at St Vincent de Paul Residence, it was revealed during a meeting between the administration of the institution, Ian Vella for the Commissioner for Animal Rights, and NGO Animal Guardians Malta earlier today.

The team will consist of residents, staff and Animal Guardians Malta representatives and it will run the cat sanctuary and be able to set up a bank account and raise funds in order to provide food for the cats.

The structure of the SCAN team and a draft of the sanctuary plan will also be drafted by the NGO and presented to the administration in a week, the NGO said in a statement.

The cat sanctuary, containing cat cafes , shelters, and benches is going to be set up in a specific area, within St Vincent De Paul, which has already been identified and which shall be accessible to the residents , even those who are wheelchair bound.

Following complaints last week about the treatment of stray cats at the St Vincent de Paul elderly home, Animal Guardians NGO said it reached a compromise agreement with the facility, which will include the establishment of a ‘cat café’.

Animal Guardians Malta (AGM) had also alleged that residents and staff at SVPR had been prohibited from feeding cats and kittens and providing them with water. The issue arose after visitors noticed a sign against feeding cats, but during today’s meeting it was made clear that there is no ban on staff or residents or visitors to feed cat food to the cats.

They explained however, that such feeding was not to take place in wards and that clean plastic containers are to be used.

The NGO added that all cats shall be neutered and micro-chipped and that a contract is to be drafted and signed by all involved so as to solidify the agreements made today.

The statement also adds that a second meeting is planned in a week's time to go on with negotiations in the matter.

Addressing the issue of some missing cats and kittens around the residence, the CEO Dr Josianne Cassar, denied claims that any cats or kittens were removed on orders from St Vincent De Paul. “We shall now leave this matter to be investigated using other means,” Cassar said.

Earlier last week, the animal welfare directorate had confirmed that animal welfare officers were at Saint Vincent de Paul Residence “to catch” three kittens that had entered one of the wards, which ha draised concerns over the way the creatures were being treated.