Abandoned Cat Rescued from Uninhabited Island in M. Atoll

A cat abandoned on an uninhabited island in Meemu Atoll has been rescued following a joint operation by the Zoophilist Society of Maldives and the Tofu Foundation, with the latter funding the rescue effort.

According to posts shared by the Zoophilist Society on its social media accounts, a tourist first brought the matter to its attention. The tourist had travelled near the island from a safari vessel anchored nearby and found the cat surviving with little to no food or water. The tourist appealed for assistance on Facebook, stating that the safari captain had refused to allow the animal on board.

The society said it dispatched a team to the island on Saturday but failed to locate the cat during the initial attempt. Volunteers left food and water before returning. On Sunday, the team made a second trip and successfully rescued the animal.

In a video shared online, the team departed from Meemu Maduvvari during the day and remained on the island until dusk in order to retrieve the cat, breaking their fast there before returning. The footage shows the cat secured in a carrier later that night as the team transported it back. The society confirmed that the cat is currently in the care of a temporary caretaker and has called on members of the public willing to adopt it to come forward.

The case has renewed attention on the wider issue of cat abandonment in the Maldives. In the Malé area, abandoned cats are frequently left near the parking area adjacent to the King Salman Mosque and in the car park in front of Marrybrown. Individuals and organisations often feed stray cats in these areas and occasionally construct makeshift shelters within the parking lots.

However, reports of alleged abuse and poisoning of cats remain common in Malé and on other islands.

The national pet-care facility, Olhu Hiyaa, which opened in 2024, has faced sustained criticism from members of the public and animal welfare groups over its handling of the stray cat population in Malé. In August 2025, nearly a year after opening, the facility announced that it had taken in only 30 cats over the course of the year.

A report released last year following a joint investigation by Nine Lives Raajje, Welfare for Island Cats, the Zoophilist Society of Maldives and Care for Paws found that multiple cat-related diseases, including mycoplasma, had spread within the shelter, leading to a sharp rise in deaths. The report stated that 51 cats had reportedly died within a period of 20 days.

As of 15 September, the shelter housed 127 cats, with eight additional cats brought in later. However, the report noted that only 84 cats remained, with no available data on their genders or the number of kittens.

The investigation also raised concerns over hygiene practices at the facility. It stated that cleaning staff used the same gloves and brushes across all cages, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. Although staff claimed to use separate scoops for feeding quarantined and outdoor cats, the report said this could not be independently verified. Investigators also observed visible stool on litter boxes and furniture.

Citizens have increasingly voiced concern over the situation, with many arguing that the shelter does not provide a safe environment for the animals. Critics have questioned the management of the facility and described it as a misuse of public funds, alleging that it has failed to deliver adequate care and protection for the cats housed there.