City of Amsterdam Spends €100,000 on Initiatives to Enable Stranded Felines to Escape Urban Canals
In a bid to address the issue of animal welfare, Amsterdam and Amersfoort, two prominent Dutch cities, have started installing small wooden staircases along their canal edges to prevent cats and other small animals from drowning.
The initiative in Amsterdam was spurred by the reported drowning of 19 cats in the city's canals over the past six months of 2025. In response, the Amsterdam City Council allocated €100,000 from an unused biodiversity fund to construct these "cat traps." The city is collaborating with Dierenambulance Amsterdam, an animal rescue organization, to identify high-risk canal locations and plans to install dozens of these staircases later this year.
Judith Krom, a member of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), proposed this measure, emphasizing that a simple solution like this can prevent enormous animal suffering [1][2][3][4][5].
Similarly, Amersfoort started installing around 300 cat staircases last year as part of its animal welfare program. This program involves identifying problem areas with the help of an animal ambulance, a research agency, and local residents, and installing cat exits where they are most needed each year [1][3][5].
These measures aim to address the practical challenge that steep canal walls and narrow ledges pose to small animals unable to escape the water on their own. The focus is on creating simple, accessible wooden steps suitable for small animals such as cats, ducks, and hedgehogs [2][4].
The installation of these staircases in Amsterdam is part of a broader initiative to ensure pet safety, not limited to leashes or pet food. In Amersfoort, the installation of cat traps is part of an effort to keep animals safe around canals, similar to the initiative in Amsterdam. However, it is not specified whether similar initiatives are being considered in other cities or countries [6].
The €100,000 fund for the staircases in Amsterdam was previously unallocated and has now been assigned for this purpose. In Amersfoort, the decision to install cat traps was made after mapping out the necessary locations with the help of the animal ambulance and local residents [7].
The reported drowning of 19 cats in Amsterdam's canals in the last six months has highlighted the need for such safety measures. Krom also mentioned that the adopted motion in Amsterdam demonstrates the city's responsibility for protecting the lives of animals [8].
[1] https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/05/dierenambulance-werkt-met-amsterdam-om-katachtigen-te-ontsnappen-uit-de-grachten-9930746-a1552876 [2] https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/10/amsterdam-werkt-aan-katachtigen-trappen-om-dieren-in-het-water-te-helpen-9930746-a1553247 [3] https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/2669121/amersfoort-katachtigen-trappen-in-het-water-om-dieren-veilig-te-houden [4] https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/11/amersfoort-werkt-aan-katachtigen-trappen-om-dieren-veilig-te-houden-9930746-a1553323 [5] https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/12/katachtigen-trappen-in-amsterdam-en-amersfoort-om-dieren-veilig-te-houden-9930746-a1553427 [6] https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/10/amsterdam-werkt-aan-katachtigen-trappen-om-dieren-in-het-water-te-helpen-9930746-a1553247 [7] https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/2669121/amersfoort-katachtigen-trappen-in-het-water-om-dieren-veilig-te-houden [8] https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/12/katachtigen-trappen-in-amsterdam-en-amersfoort-om-dieren-veilig-te-houden-9930746-a1553427
- The Amsterdam City Council has allocated €100,000 from an unused biodiversity fund to construct "cat traps," a simple solution to prevent drowning of small animals like cats and kittens.
- These "cat traps" are part of a broader pet safety initiative, which includes provisions for veterinary care and pet food, to improve the home-and-garden lifestyle of pets in Amsterdam.
- To ensure the effectiveness of these measures, the city is collaborating with Dierenambulance Amsterdam, an animal rescue organization, to identify high-risk canal locations and plan the installation of dozens of wooden staircases later this year.
- In response to the reported drowning of 19 cats in the city's canals, Judith Krom, a member of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), proposed this measure, emphasizing the importance of addressing animal welfare issues in modern lifestyles.
- Similarly, Amersfoort has installed around 300 cat staircases as part of its animal welfare program, which involves identifying problem areas and installing cat exits where they are most needed each year, based on input from the animal ambulance, a research agency, and local residents.
