Interview: a boat for cats!

16 dubna, 2026
Redakce
english, rozhovory

In Amsterdam, there is a unique boat. It offers a home for cats and has been operating since the 1960s.

The originator is a lady named Mrs. v. Weelde, who in 1966 decided to take care of a family of abandoned cats. Another stray soon joined and then people started to bring her cats they were no longer able to look after themselves. The problem: son there was just too many cats and not enough space.

In Amsterdam, and elsewhere, some people live on boats, and Mrs. Weelde got the brilliant idea to buy a boat for her cats to live on. She bought an old sailing barge in 1968. The interior was stripped and converted into feline-friendly accommodation. And soon the first residents started moving in: cats and more cats. And then volunteers who cared for them.

Since that time the Catboat has developed into a professional sanctuary providing care to countless cats and also rehoming some of them. It is possible to visit and entrance is free, while a donation is welcome.

Ms Weelde pased away May 2005 but the team, new people and Judith whom we interviewed took care of everything and continued the work on the Catboat.

I havent heard of anything like this, are you the only floating cat’s home?

Judith: We are the only real Catboat.

Does someone sleep on the boat to guard the felines non stop or is it just a cat home and people come to care for them?

The cats sleep alone at night.

Is your capacity enough?

We can always use more space, but this is what we have.

Does it happen sometimes that people adopt your cat?

Yes, we rehome approximately 200 cats a year.

What are the best and worst parts of running this home for cats?

The best is if we find a really suitable and loving home for our cats, especially the somewhat more ‘difficult’ cats. The worst thing is seeing people mistreating cats, not always on purpose but often because people have no knowledge.

I believe that if someone puts your boat or Instagram, people get interested which is both good (donations) and less good(people that may disturb the cats if they are too numerous), did you ever have to protect your cats’ peace?

You are right, we do not need to be on all the holiday social media platforms! We get too much people already. The cats like the attention, and if they want peace they can go outside or on high spots. But we are only open 3 times a week for 2 hours. So, that is okay. It is just no fun if you have to sent people away because there are far too many people wanting to get in! We are not a tourist attraction, we are a shelter.

What can we do to help your project stay, um, afloat?

We are very happy when people donate, they can do it online.

Anything else you want to add?

We find neutering very important, especially if cats go outside! Too many unplanned litters are born.