Shanghai's first "Cat Island" has emerged as a model for addressing the challenges posed by urban stray cats.

Launched in 2022, Cat Island is a one-of-a-kind sanctuary for stray cats in Shanghai, operating under the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) model, an internationally recognized humane approach to managing and reducing stray cat populations.

Situated in a repurposed kindergarten in Shanghai's suburban Baoshan district, Cat Island currently shelters hundreds of stray cats.

The cats at Cat Island are available for adoption, and a rigorous adoption process must be followed to ensure their welfare is safeguarded.

"Prospective adopters first visit the site to determine whether a particular cat is a suitable match. After registration, they are given 24 hours to confirm their decision," said Li Chuangge, a staff worker at Cat Island.

"We require families to prepare their homes thoroughly, such as installing window screens to prevent accidents before adopting a cat," she said.

Adopters must also provide an appropriate carrier for safe transportation and commit to completing the cat's vaccination schedule. "If a cat has had two vaccinations, the adopter schedules the third shot with us three weeks later," Li added.

The project maintains a robust follow-up system through video calls to monitor the well-being of adopted cats. "We conduct follow-ups on an irregular basis, sometimes after 10 days, sometimes the next day. It's our way of ensuring the cat's successful transition," Li said.

Many adopters also voluntarily share updates about their new companions on social media.

Every Saturday afternoon, lawyers from Shanghai Yingdong Law Firm, including Sun Yiwei, provide legal consultations at Cat Island. These consultation sessions often address community conflicts arising from the care of stray cats.

"While compassion is commendable, it's crucial to consider the practical needs of all residents," Sun said.

To date, Cat Island has taken in 735 stray cats, with 363 successfully adopted. In addition, through cooperation with communities across the city, the project has neutered 28,512 stray cats and released them back into their original communities.

A total of 8,468 volunteers have participated in the programme, supporting the daily operation of Cat Island, which is also backed by partnerships with 259 domestic and international brands.

Originally located in Pudong New Area, Cat Island was relocated to Baoshan district in April last year.