Monthly Cost of Hulhumalé Cat Shelter for 2,000 Cats is MVR 700k, Minister Says

The Minister for Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Dr Maryam Mariya, said today that the cat shelter established in Hulhumale’ will cost MVR 700,000 for 2,000 cats per month, which is the full capacity of the shelter. 

Parliament summoned Minister Mariya today to respond to questions submitted by Mohamed Ibrahim, the MP for North Galolhu. He inquired about the number of cats currently housed at the facility, the reasons for not taking in more, and sought updates on the facility’s equipment and staffing. Later, he requested details regarding the facility’s expenses.

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In response, Minister Mariya stated that the non-recurrent expenses for the facility total MVR 1.2 billion erroneously. She later clarified that she had mistakenly said the total cost was MVR 1.2 billion, when the correct amount is MVR 1.2 million.

 Breaking down the costs, she explained that housing 2,000 cats—the shelter’s full capacity—would require the state to spend MVR 700,000 per month.

She further clarified that the facility incurs costs of MVR 3.4 million every three months, amounting to MVR 10.8 million annually.

“From the facility’s total budget, MVR 368 [per cat] for a month,” she said. 

This amounts to MVR 5,416 per cat yearly, the minister said. 

Mariya stated that when the ministry assumed control of the Olhuhiya facility, it lacked the proper resources to care for cats safely. However, she added that the ministry is now working to complete the necessary formalities. She noted that they have already taken in 30 stray cats from the streets of Malé, and once the facility is fully operational, all stray cats from Malé will be relocated there.

The Olhuhiya facility began operations last February.

Malé City Council originally established the facility to care for the city’s stray cats. However, the cabinet later decided to transfer responsibility for the facility to the ministry, causing delays in its use. Following disagreements between the ministry and the city council, the facility now falls under the ministry’s jurisdiction and is currently being utilised by them.