Cat shelter in Vaasa struggles with heating issues as winter approaches

The cat shelter in Vaasa faces a challenging winter. Located in the dilapidated building in Palosaari, the shelter’s oil-heated system broke down last winter and remains unrepaired. Approximately 150 cats currently reside in the shelter, according to Kirsti Koivula, chairperson of the Friends of Homeless Cats Association that operates the facility.

“Last winter, the toilets froze and the cats’ food bowls stuck to the floor,” Koivula recalls. Fortunately, they received a donation from a contact: a local heat pump company provided and installed a heat pump at no cost. “It’s wonderful. It keeps the downstairs warm,” she praises. However, the pump cannot heat the upper floors, which are starting to deteriorate, leaving some cats living in cold conditions.

“The problem is how the house will withstand winter if the pipes freeze again. It’s tragic. We can only pray that the building holds up,” Koivula adds.

The heating system failed last winter, forcing the shelter to rely on additional electric heaters, leading to a staggering electricity bill of €3,000 between January and March. The city of Vaasa agreed to cover a small portion of this expense. For this year, Koivula states, they negotiated a €150 reduction in their monthly rent, which currently stands at €400. “But we are responsible for all expenses and heating costs ourselves. No repairs will be made as it is a condemned building,” she explains.

A new building in Isolahti is ready for the shelter but has not been used due to a complaint from neighbors that blocked the relocation. The city has begun the zoning change process, aiming for the city council to discuss the proposal by 2026. Koivula hopes for approval, noting that any appeals at that stage would concern the city’s procedure, not the cats. “It has been a long and drawn-out process. We bought the house in 2011, and years have passed with more to come,” she laments.