Amsterdam Is Home to a Houseboat Full of Cats—and You Can Pet Them All

Some people can only dream of living on a houseboat in Amsterdam, but that's the reality for dozens of feral and abandoned cats in the city. As Mic reports, De Poezenboot, or The Catboat, provides shelter to about 50 cats in need of homes—and guests can visit the floating animal sanctuary for free.

The shelter was founded in 1968, when a cat lover named Henriette van Weelde purchased a Dutch sailing barge to house the growing number of rescue cats she had taken in. The barge was eventually replaced with the Dutch houseboat that's docked in the canal today. The vessel provides heating in the winter and beds, boxes, and scratching posts to keep cats happy and comfortable. They have access to the outside deck any time of year, and there's even a fence to keep them from swiping at duck chicks in the water.

Weelde passed away in 2005 at age 90. Today the shelter is managed by Judith Gobets, who worked under Weelde for years, and maintained by a team of volunteers. In addition to caring for and feeding the cats, they also make sure every cat that comes to them is sterilized, micro-chipped, and vaccinated.

Tourists and locals in Amsterdam are free to see The Catboat and its feline residents in person from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. everyday except Wednesdays and Sundays. Visitors can help the shelter by making a suggested donation, or by taking home one of the pets that are up for adoption.

[h/t Mic]