A Chatipi in Plessé: Press Release

The Chatipi space will be inaugurated on Monday 22 June at 5 pm at the Résidence de la Rochefoucauld, located at 6, rue du Dr Alexis Carrel in Plessé, in the presence of the deputy mayor, Ms Magali Ouary, and former councillor Mr Alain Annaix, who has been involved in the project; Ms Muriel Arnal, President of One Voice, and Mr Florian Valy; as well as Ms Virginie Le Magueresse and Mr Gérald Cruaud, President and Secretary respectively of L’Arche de Ninie, accompanied by volunteers.

A new step towards protecting stray cats

In France, more than 11 million cats live as strays, exposed to disease, hunger and difficult living conditions. Their presence can sometimes lead to misunderstandings and conflicts with local residents.

It is against this backdrop that One Voice is developing the Chatipi programme: an educational and operational initiative designed to stabilise populations of stray cats through neutering, to provide them with shelter, while improving their care (feeding, health monitoring) and their coexistence with humans. More than sixty Chatipis have already been set up across the country.

Until now, the municipality of Plessé had mainly been involved through neutering campaigns carried out with the support of local organisations and residents. Wishing to adopt a more preventive, ethical and sustainable approach, the council sought to strengthen its commitment to the welfare of cats. The Chatipi project now provides a safe haven for stray cats, whilst facilitating their health monitoring and the continuation of neutering and identification efforts.

A local partnership supporting a sustainable project

The project is based on a four-party agreement and collaboration. Each partner has made a contribution:

• One Voice, which set up the scheme, funded fifteen sterilisation procedures, identifications and health checks, as well as the purchase of the chalet, cat flaps, the information board and thirty kilograms of dry cat food.
• The local council installed the load-bearing floor, oversaw the assembly of the chalet and will cover the cost of the cats’ food as well as any future veterinary expenses.
• L’Arche de Ninie is responsible for trapping the cats, monitoring their health, fitting out the cat shelter and placing sociable cats or kittens with foster families with a view to adoption. Feeding the cats and cleaning the site are carried out jointly by the association and the local council.
• Finally, the Résidence de la Rochefoucauld care home has agreed to host the Chatipi on its premises and has made part of its grounds available for this purpose.

A project that fosters intergenerational bonds

The establishment of the Chatipi space within the care home gives the project a special dimension. True to the spirit of the scheme devised by One Voice, it encourages discussion about animal welfare and the involvement of both the care home residents and the surrounding population.

The care home wishes to organise activities that involve residents in the work carried out as part of the Chatipi project. Among the initiatives being considered is the making of small blankets for the cats. Several locals, as well as a resident of the care home, have also already taken part in operations to catch the stray cats taken in at the site.

This initiative is part of a series of outreach activities organised by the Résidence de la Rochefoucauld, which regularly facilitates encounters between its residents, the local population and pupils from the local primary school.

Practical information

The opening ceremony for the first Chatipi in Loire-Atlantique will take place on Monday 22 June at 5 pm at the Résidence de la Rochefoucauld, located at 6, rue du Dr Alexis Carrel, 44630 Plessé.

With this first Chatipi in the Loire-Atlantique region, Plessé is demonstrating that responsible management of stray cats can also become a genuine regional initiative.

A Chatipi in Plessé: Press Release

For the stray cats of Plessé, One Voice is inaugurating the first Chatipi in the Loire-Atlantique region on 22 June