Thousands of cats and rodents taken in by animal shelters

From young to old, cats make up the largest group of animals taken into shelters. Keystone / Philipp Von Ditfurth

Last year, more than 13,000 animals were taken in by Swiss animal shelters: mainly cats, rodents and dogs. Compared to the previous year, the number decreased slightly.

Of the animals taken in, just under 9,000 could be placed with new owners, as the Swiss Animal Protection (STS) announced on Thursday. The STS animal protection statistics include the shelters and rescue centres of 66 STS sections throughout Switzerland. A total of 13,032 animals were taken in last year – in 2021, there were around five hundred more.

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More than half of the animals are cats. A good 300 of them were officially confiscated. Rodents and rabbits, as well as dogs, follow in second and third place, with around 2,000 animals taken in each. Rodents include mice, rats, hamsters and guinea pigs. The number of exotic animals, such as reptiles and turtles, has increased. However, with a few hundred animals each, they make up a comparatively small group.

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