🐈 Is it legal to feed colony or stray cats in Malta?

Yes

Quick answer

Yes — it is not illegal to feed colony or stray cats, but do not leave a mess behind. The Office of the Commissioner for Animal Welfare has confirmed that arguing the cats should not be fed goes against the Animal Welfare Act (Cap. 439). What is not allowed is leaving spilled food, litter or mess that creates a nuisance or a health risk — that is the part that can get you in trouble, not the act of feeding. The myth: that "feeding stray cats is illegal". No — it is protected; but abandonment and cruelty are offences under the same Act. The sanctioned way to reduce the population is TNR (trap, neuter and return), run by NGOs with the support of the Directorate. Every local council is to keep a list of feeders, and colony cats are to be registered with the council.

📋 The rules

It is not illegal to feed colony or stray cats; arguing the opposite goes against the spirit of Cap. 439.
You cannot leave spilled food, litter or mess that creates a nuisance or a health risk; the council can address the mess.
Abandonment and cruelty to animals are offences under Cap. 439, with fines and even imprisonment in serious cases.
TNR — trap, neuter and return — is the preferred method and is carried out by NGOs with the support of the Animal Welfare Directorate.
Every local council is to keep an updated list of feeders, and the cats are to be registered with the respective council.

🔓 Exceptions

When food is left in a way that creates a health problem or a build-up of litter, responsibility for the mess can fall on the person feeding.
A local council can indicate places where to feed or impose conditions to reduce the inconvenience to the neighbourhood.
A cat with an owner is not the same as a colony cat; taking or keeping someone else's cat brings in different ownership rules.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The law protects the carer, not the one who leaves a mess. Feeding the cats is itself protected under Cap. 439, but if you leave spilled food, litter or mess that creates a nuisance or a health risk, you can be held responsible for that mess by the local council or the health authorities. On the other hand, abandonment and cruelty to animals are offences under Cap. 439, with fines and even imprisonment in serious cases — so anyone who thinks they can "get rid of" a cat by leaving it in the street can end up charged. TNR programmes, run by NGOs with the support of the Directorate, are the sanctioned way to reduce the population without culling. Registering as a carer with the local council gives structure and protection to those who genuinely look after a colony.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Is it legal to feed stray cats?

Yes, it is not illegal to feed colony or stray cats, and the argument that they should not be fed goes against the spirit of the Animal Welfare Act (Cap. 439). What is not allowed is leaving mess or leftovers after feeding them, because that can become a nuisance.

Can I get in trouble for feeding them?

Feeding in itself is not an offence, but if you leave food, a build-up of litter or mess that creates a health problem or a nuisance for the neighbours, you can be held responsible for it. The local council can address the mess, not the act of feeding itself.

What is TNR and who does it?

TNR means trap, neuter and return of the cats to their colony, and in Malta it is done mostly by NGOs with the support of the Animal Welfare Directorate. It is the preferred method to gradually reduce the number of cats without culling.

Can I register as a colony carer?

Yes, every local council is to keep an updated list of those who feed the cats, and the stray cats are to be registered under the respective council. Registration helps the colony to be managed properly and gives you support for the neutering programmes.

What happens to someone who abandons or abuses a cat?

Abandonment and cruelty to animals are offences under Cap. 439, with fines and even imprisonment in serious cases. Feeding and caring for a colony is protected, but leaving an animal alone or hurting it is firmly on the other side of the law.

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