Amsterdam has allocated up to €100,000 ($115,610) to install steps along city center canals to help cats out of the water. The tiny wooden staircases aim to save felines and other animals from drowning in areas with high walls. Animal welfare organization Dierenambulance Amsterdam reports that 19 cats have drowned in the city’s canals in the last six months. Judith Krom from Party for the Animals proposed that the city spend the unused money found in the city’s biodiversity plan to fund the wildlife exit points. City officials will work to identify areas where cats are most likely to drown before the small animal escape routes are installed. Steps will then be built at the highest-risk locations later this year to help cats safely climb back onto the shore. The municipality plans to install approximately 300 cat stairs per year as part of an animal welfare project.
