Help homeless cats and the environment with new vending machines in Bucharest parks

Cats are easy victims of frost. Homeless ones, if not well fed, can freeze to death within an hour.

In a bid to support the city's stray animals, solar-powered vending machines have been installed across Bucharest’s parks. These machines allow residents to recycle plastic bottles and aluminium cans in exchange for food and water for homeless cats. The initiative aims to provide crucial aid, especially during the harsh winter months when unprotected cats are vulnerable to freezing temperatures, and during scorching summer heatwaves, when water becomes vital for their survival.

The project, launched by the Sache Vet Association in collaboration with the Authority for Animal Supervision and Protection, offers an easy and cost-free way for locals to help animals in need. The city's initiative, funded by the Bucharest City Hall, is further supported by a year’s supply of food donated by the international NGO Greater Good Charities.

The vending machines, already attracting significant attention, not only provide sustenance for cats but also promote dog adoption, with informative displays encouraging people to adopt stray animals. Currently, the feeding machines are located in three popular parks—Tineretului, Circului, and Floreasca—but the program's impact is expected to grow.