Cat shelter to cost MVR 10.8 million annually, minister says

Minister of Animal Welfare Dr Mariyam Mariya has informed Parliament that the annual cost of operating the cat care centre in Hulhumalé is projected to be MVR 10.8 million.

The statement was made during a parliamentary sitting on Wednesday in which Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim questioned the minister regarding the operation of the animal shelter and the current status of stray dogs in urban areas.

In response, Minister Mariya said that while some animals are currently being cared for at the shelter, the facility is not yet prepared to accommodate a large number of cats. She noted that 30 cats are currently housed at the shelter.

According to the minister, when the shelter was transferred from the Malé City Council to the ministry, it was not adequately equipped to care for a significant number of animals. The ministry is currently working on developing the facility further and will not admit more animals than it can handle until the necessary arrangements are completed.

Minister Mariya stated that the city council did not complete the construction of the shelter as initially planned, leading to delays in the commencement of full services.

The minister also provided a breakdown of projected operating costs for the facility. The estimated total cost of completing the centre is MVR 1.2 million. Once fully operational, housing up to 2,000 cats at a time, the cost of running the shelter is expected to be:

Based on these figures, the total annual operating cost would amount to MVR 10.8 million.