The Chief Executive Officer of St Vincent De Paul has told The Malta Independent that residents of the old people’s home are in fact allowed to feed the cats living on the SVPR grounds, even though a temporary measure had been taken to limit risk infection. Dr Josianne Cutajar also insisted that, contrary to claims made by an NGO, no instructions for the removal of cats from the premises have been issued.

Earlier today, Animal Guardians Malta said it had received reports that the SVPR CEO had “called in men with cages” to remove the cats. “Surely this amounts to animal abuse cause this has been the cats' territory for ages! We also have reports, with names, which we shall provide to the newspapers, that there are mice being found on the residents of this home,” the NGO said.

The group had previously claimed that residents were prohibited from feeding the felines and that an agreement reached some months ago to introduce cat shelters and feeders had not been respected. Animal rights activist and TV presenter Moira Delia described the cat feeding ban as “heartless and brainless” and said the solution was neutering not starvation.

But in comments to this paper, Dr Cutajar said the SVPR did not call people in to remove the cats and had not banned residents from feeding the animals.

“Back in January 2015 we received several complaints of stray cats wandering in wards. Photos of faecal droppings were produced by clients and some also complained of cat scratches. On investigation it was reported that makeshift shelters were set up and unhygienic food swill was being left outside the main entrances of wards and hence leading the cats into the wards. This being a hospital setting the situation alerted us to the possibility of health hazards and infection control concerns.”

Dr Cutajar said that, at the time a few posters advising people to avoid people from feeding cats in these particular areas were put up “but these 3-4 posters were removed immediately since our preventive measure was perceived negatively by the NGO. Since then there have been no further instructions limiting feeding of stray cats.”

The SVPR CEO said that residents are still providing food and drink for the cats.

“The Animal Welfare Department has an ongoing neutering service at SVPR which has been in place for many months. Moreover we invited the NGO to explain our concerns with the situation since the faecal droppings indicated that the cats were not in good health. During the meeting with representatives of the Animal Guardian, organised shelters and feeding sites outside SVPR were discussed and we had no objections. However, the area external to SVPR grounds pertains to the Luqa local council. We facilitated the process by meeting a representative of the Luqa local Council and expressed that we are in agreement of having these sites set up outside the main gates should the Council or the NGO wish to consider.”

Dr Cutajar said the SVPR administration has been and still is in consultation with Animal Welfare and the Health Inspectorate Directorate on this matter. “SVPR supports all organised initiatives and looks forward to see these shelters set up and maintained. Please also note that SVPR has a Pet Therapy policy and some wards do have pets which are very well looked after and nurtured by both staff and residents.”

Animal Welfare Commissioner Emanuel Buhagiar also told this paper that he was informed by the Animal Welfare Directorate that the situation had returned to normal and the cats were being fed and watered. He also explained that since the cats are kept by SVPR the residence is legally required to take care of them by providing water, food and shelter. 

However, a person who wished to remain anonymous called this newsroom this afternoon insisting that "SVPR staff" had laid out traps and taken some of the cats away. "Residents were asked for ham and cheese as bait for the cats and several of them were caught and taken somewhere. Many cats have disappeared," the woman said. "If the SVPR CEO is insisting that her people did not do this and the Animal Welfare Directorate was also not involved, then there should be an investigation to find out who took the cats away."

Animal Welfare clarifies about 'missing' cats

The mystery of the missing cats seems to have finally been solved after the Animal Welfare and Promotion Services Directorate said this evening that three kittens were "relocated" from the wards. In a statement Animal Welfare Director Lawrence Buhagiar said: "AWPS confirms that it received a call from SVPR staff who requested our assistance to catch and relocate three kittens that entered one of the wards. Two of the kittens were soon released in the same perimeter of SVPR whilst the third kitten needed some medical care and was therefore taken to Ċentru San Franġisk for the necessary treatment.