Cat shelter appeals for help after 17-hour power cut puts sick animals at risk

A cat shelter has appealed for help after being left without power for more than 17 hours, warning that sweltering temperatures are putting the health of cats receiving or recovering from medical treatment at risk.

The appeal comes amid widespread rolling power cuts as Malta continues to endure sweltering temperatures.

In a Facebook post, the Carers for Stray and Abandoned Felines (CSAF) said the situation at its shelter was becoming "critical" after losing power at around 9pm last night.

"Our greatest concern is our medical rooms, where we keep cats that are sick, recovering from surgery, or receiving treatment", the shelter said, describing the rooms as converted medical containers reliant on air conditioning to maintain a safe temperature.

"Without electricity, they have become unbearably hot and, if power is not restored urgently, they could become a death sentence for the vulnerable cats inside."

The shelter noted that the rest of the shelter was also suffering from high temperatures, left without access to fans and sufficient ventilation. The organisation had "no way to keep our cats comfortable in this heat. Every hour that passes puts them at greater risk".

A video attached to the post shows cats panting heavily in cages. Unlike dogs, cats do not typically pant to cool down, with the behaviour seen as an indication of possible overheating, according to multiple online veterinary resources.

The CSAF appealed for help sourcing a generator or receiving assistance from Enemalta.

Thousands of people spent a sleepless night without power between Monday and Tuesday as outages left entire neighbourhoods across the country in the dark and without access to air conditioning.

Areas including Vittoriosa, Cospicua, Żabbar, Attard, Balzan, Fgura, Gharghur, Ħamrun, Kalkara, Lija, Mellieħa, Msida, Naxxar, Pembroke, Pieta, St Paul’s Bay and Swieqi were affected by the cuts.

MSPCA calls for policy change

The Malta Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (MSPCA) told Times of Malta that the hotter summers and more frequent heatwaves seen in recent years required rethinking legislation and planning guidelines for shelters.

"Climate change is changing the way animal welfare organisations operate, and our infrastructure and policies must evolve to meet these new challenges", a spokesperson for the society said, noting the MSPCA was in discussions with European partners on the issue.

The association has invested in additional cooling systems and water-saving and energy consumption-reducing measures this summer, she said, stressing such upgrades were no longer optional, but essential.

The spokesperson noted that 'flat-faced' breeds of dog were particularly at risk from higher temperatures.

"The MSPCA also believes it is time to review the legislative and planning framework governing animal shelters", she said. "As climate conditions continue to change, shelters should be supported in developing permanent, climate-resilient and energy-efficient facilities that provide better protection for animals while reducing long-term operating costs."

She highlighted the need for animal-focused climate reduction measures, emphasising that "Dogs confined in small outdoor cages to guard properties, horses left with little natural shade, and other animals exposed to prolonged periods of extreme heat are all at risk".

Accusations and apologies

The recent outages have provoked criticism from the Opposition, with Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg on Monday night hitting out at a "failure of planning" while demanding compensation for those affected.

Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said yesterday that the situation was a result of extreme temperatures and record demand for electricity, with countries such as Germany, France and Italy seeing similar outages in recent weeks.

She said the government was investing more than ever in the grid to ensure it meets future demand.

Prime Minister Robert Abela earlier on Friday offered an "unconditional" apology to those affected by the outages, while pointing to climate change-derived temperature increases and logistical challenges addressing "decades" of underinvestment.

Abela said the work the government has done in recent years was “unprecedented”.