Amsterdam isn’t kitten around.
The capital of the Netherlands is known for its scenic canals — so cherished that they’ve been selected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But the iconic canals paired with Amsterdam’s narrow streets have long put the city’s feline friends at risk.
In the past six months alone, 19 cats have sadly drowned in a canal — six of them in the city center, according to animal welfare organization Dierenambulance Amsterdam.
To keep their cats safe from drowning, Amsterdam is installing small wooden staircases along the canals so cats can escape if they tumble down and can’t get back up the high walls.
The city has allocated €100,000 (about $116,400 USD) on the initiative, the Independent reported.
Judith Krom from the Party for the Animals (PvdD), a political group that advocates for animal rights and welfare, put forth the spending proposal, noting that “a simple measure can prevent enormous animal suffering.”
On July 10, the Amsterdam City Council voted in favor of Krom’s motion.
“The adopted motion demonstrates that as a city, we take responsibility for protecting the lives of animals,” Krom said.
The city will work with Dierenambulance to determine what areas cats are most likely to face drowning before building the steps.
The small animal escape routes will be installed at the most high-risk locations later this year.
High walls along the canals have been a challenge for cats and other small animals in the city for a long time, and Amsterdam hopes to provide a practical solution.
Maggie Ruitenberg from the local feline information cente, Katten Kenniscentrum, told Dutch daily Volkskrant that the city’s cats can accidentally fall into canals when they get startled, per Euro News.
“A ladder can really save their life, as long as there are enough of them,” she said.
Amsterdam’s feline safety measures come after a nearby city, Amersfoort, announced it will be building around 300 cat traps along its quays and canals.
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