August 4, 2025, 11:54 am | Read time: 3 minutes
In Amsterdam, a simple yet effective measure is set to save the lives of many animals in the future—special exit aids will protect cats and wildlife in the canals. After a pro-animal party highlighted an unused budget item, the city has now allocated funds for this purpose.
Amsterdam to Install Mini-Stairs for Cats and Other Animals in Canals
Amsterdam is famous for its many canals that crisscross the city. In these so-called grachten, wildlife exit points are now set to be installed. These special steps are intended to prevent cats and other small animals from drowning because they can’t get out on their own.
The initiative was sparked by a proposal from the animal protection party Partij voor de Dieren (PvdD), which the Amsterdam city council has now approved, as reported by the newspaper “Het Parool.”
According to the Dutch news site, it was decided to allocate 100,000 euros to make the city’s canals safer for animals. The animal protection party PvdD had highlighted the many animal accidents in the canals.
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At Least 19 Cats Drowned in Six Months
The cats that drowned in Amsterdam in recent months likely prompted the proposal. Judith Krom, a city council member of the PvdD, told the Dutch newspaper “NlTimes” that figures from the Amsterdam animal emergency service showed that 19 cats had drowned in the canals in the past six months alone.
“We asked the animal emergency service to map the locations where these incidents occur most frequently so that steps can be installed there specifically,” Krom continued.
The planned exit points are not exclusively cat stairs, but the new measures are likely to be an important signal for pet owners.
Amersfoort Installed 300 Ladders to Prevent Animal Deaths
The project is modeled after a similar initiative in Amersfoort in the province of Utrecht. In June, it was announced that 300 exit ladders would be installed along the canals to prevent wildlife from drowning.
Zita Pels, Amsterdam’s animal protection commissioner, had previously supported such a project, as reported by “Parool.” However, Pels had not been able to implement it due to financial constraints. Krom researched ahead of the proposal that the commissioner’s animal protection plan includes a budget of 100,000 euros for such measures. Pels explicitly supports the initiative, allowing the project to make rapid progress.
The city administration has already tasked the animal rescue organization Dierenambulance with identifying locations where cats and other animals most frequently struggle to get out of the water. Based on these findings, suitable sites for the new exit ladders will be selected.
While cats can swim if they fall into a canal out of fright, their fur easily absorbs water. Therefore, they need a lot of energy to stay warm and afloat. If they don’t find a suitable exit in time, this situation can quickly become dangerous for them.