The closed hutches are designed to provide shelter for the cats while feeding and to prevent dogs from reaching the food. They are not intended as cat homes or living quarters. We do not put soft materials such as cushions or blankets inside the hutches. Such materials would quickly get dirty and wet, potentially causing health problems for the cats.
The feeders inside the hutches provide a safe constant source of dry cat food. They are refilled as the need arises. We do not leave food outside the hutches and we do not feed the cats with inappropriate human food such as bread, pizza, pastries.
Bowls of wet food, when provided, are only used under supervision. They are removed when the cats have finished eating. Any leftovers are also removed and the bowls washed before the next use. If this is not done, the food rots quickly and becomes a health hazard for the cats.
Water is provided in glass or hard plastic containers, preferably from glass bottles. The water bowls are cleaned each time they are refilled to prevent green slime from forming. Some water bowls may be inside the hutches and there is usually at least one outside to catch rainwater. Bottles and containers made of soft plastic are potentially harmful to animals and humans.
The feeding stations and surroundings are kept clean and tidy.
Incorrect use of the feeding stations can cause danger and ill-health among the cats, besides creating extra work for us.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES:
*YOU CAN LEAVE DONATIONS OF (GOOD QUALITY) CAT FOOD BESIDE THE HUTCHES.
*PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE CATS IN OUR FEEDING LOCATIONS EXCEPT BY AGREEMENT WITH OUR ASSOCIATION ECO HVAR.
For any further information, please get in touch via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
OUR EXPERIENCES
People often ask us to establish feeding stations in other locations where cats are known to gather. There are of course considerable costs involved, for which there is no public funding: our Association depends purely on voluntary donations. Locations have to be chosen carefully. The feeding stations have to be managed by individual volunteers. A great deal of commitment is involved!
In the few years since we established the prototype feeding stations, we have encountered opposition and destructive actions from cat-haters. We understand that not everyone likes cats or other animals, and this was one of the reasons for establishing the feeding stations.
Problems have also been caused by cat-lovers. Throughout the summer of 2025, especially at the feeding station in the Plodine car park, people were leaving extra food around the hutches. Some of the food was totally inappropriate (eg dry bread, pastries); massive amounts of dry food were left outside the hutches, which largely remained untouched; wet cat food was left which immediately became stinking, rotten and worm-infested.
Plastic containers left with water inside quickly became contaminated with green slime; towels and soft materials were placed in the hutches and it fell to us to wash them when they were dirty. For most of the summer, while there were kittens on site, we were visiting the Plodine feeding station three times a day, and every day we had to dispose of the inappropriate, unnecessary food and clean up the accompanying mess. Incidentally we are glad to say that the mother and kittens we were attending to at the time were successfully homed, as were other cats from the site.
We welcome cooperation with anyone who wishes to help animals in need on Hvar. We are glad of positive suggestions about how to improve our activities. We understand that others may have different views about what street cats need. We have established our cat feeding stations according to principles promoting good hygiene and healthy practices. If others want to operate outside those principles, they can and should set up their own feeding stations in locations other than ours.
© Eco Hvar November 2025
