Amsterdam has tiny wooden staircases for cats to climb out of the city's canals

The Amsterdam City Council has approved a budget of up to €100,000 to install wooden steps along city center canals to prevent cats and other animals from drowning. The motion, proposed by Judith Krom of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), utilizes unused funds from the city's biodiversity plan. According to the animal welfare organization Dierenambulance Amsterdam, 19 cats have drowned in the city's canals over the last six months, with six occurring in the city center. Councillor for animal welfare Zita Pels supported the initiative after previously noting a lack of available funding.
The city will collaborate with Dierenambulance to identify high-risk locations with high quay walls before installing the escape routes later this year. Krom stated,
"A simple measure can prevent enormous animal suffering. The adopted motion demonstrates that as a city, we take responsibility for protecting the lives of animals." Similar measures are being implemented in the nearby city of Amersfoort, where approximately 300 exit points are planned. Amersfoort councillor Johnas van Lammeren noted, "Unfortunately, animals that end up in water in areas with high quays or quay walls can't get out and drown."