The cat facility under construction in Hulhumale will be operational within two months, Food Security and Animal Welfare Minister Aishath Rameela said.

Rameela told a news conference at the Animal Welfare Ministry today that the land required for the animal facility being built in Hulhumale has been handed over to the ministry yesterday after being fenced off. They are currently working on internal partitions to separate infected and non-infected dogs, along with a tree planting project on the land.

Rameela said the works will be completed within two months and the cats will be moved to the facility. 120 cats are expected to be moved to the facility at first. Cat lovers associations, the ministry and the Male City Council have formulated a plan for this, she said.

"The areas with the highest number of cats in the city have been identified. The first batch is being taken. This includes 120 cats near Salman Mosque," Ramila said.

She said a registry of cats will be compiled and the second batch will be taken after the first batch of cats are neutered.

The Animal Welfare Ministry has previously said that the cat facility will have a quarantine area, a clinic, a pharmacy, a laboratory and shelter for cats. The cats will also have access to proper health care and a variety of services such as a playground.