Minister: Cat shelter will cost at least MVR 1.2 million

The ‘Olhu Hiyaa’, a pet care facility developed in Hulhumale’ to care for the growing stray cat population in the Maldivian capital, will cost at least MVR 1.2 million in non-recurrent expenditure alone, says Dr. Mariyam Mariya, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare.

Built on a 5,000 square feet plot in Farukolhufushi area of Hulhumale’ Phase II, Olhu Hiyaa seeks to resolve the issue of the growing stray cat population in greater Male’ area. The facility, inaugurated in November 2024, was funded by the Male’ City Council. However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare took over the facility in February, citing failure to properly develop the shelter, and transferred 15 cats there.

Mariya, who was summoned to the Parliament on Wednesday morning, was questioned by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) the daily expenses of Olhu Hiyaa once it begins operating at full capacity.

Mariya initially said the facility will cost at least MVR 1.2 billion in non-recurrent expenditure alone, but later clarified in a post on X that it had been a mistake on her part and that she meant to say MVR 1.2 million.

“It will cost MVR 1.2 billion in non-recurrent expenditure, and it will cost MVR 700,000 monthly to care for 2,000 cats at the facility. It will cost MVR 3.4 million every three months. It will cost MVR 10.8 million per year and MVR 5,416 per cat each year from the facility’s total budget,” she said.

Mariya said that there are currently 30 cats at the facility.

The growing stray cat population in the Maldivian capital has given rise to public health concerns, as excrement litter the streets, especially in areas with a large number of cats, such as near the King Salman Mosque in Henveiru.

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Editor’s note: This article initially quoted Mariya saying that the non-recurrent expenditure of the Olhu Hiyaa is MVR 1.2 billion. The article has since been amended after she said that she misspoke and the actual cost is MVR 1.2 million.