Cats chaos in the S-Bahn: Man wish off cats-police intervene!

Cats chaos in the S-Bahn: Man wish off cats-police intervene!

A curious incident in a Cologne S-Bahn has caused excitement and mixed opinions. On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, two women reported to the police after watching a man who wanted to give away a cardboard box full of cats in the S-Bahn. When the law enforcement officers of the regulatory office had to intervene, the passengers were quite concerned about the situation. According to Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger stated that his new partner was allergic and he must therefore quickly get rid of the cats.

The cat family consisted of four small kittens and their mother. After the incident became known, the NRW animal home in Cologne-Dellbrück informed about the emergency campaign on Facebook. The four cats and their mother are now housed in a new room in the animal shelter and were well cared for there. According to a report by The West rompen the animals happily and are prepared for a species-appropriate home. In the Facebook group of the shelter, 45 comments were left within a very short time. The reactions fluctuate between relief about the rescue of the animals and skepticism about the man's approach - some even called for consequences.

The debate about animal welfare

In the middle of these controversy about the cats in the S-Bahn, there are burning questions about animal welfare in Germany and Europe on the agenda. The German Animal Welfare Association expressed concerns about a legal project in the EU, which may no longer be included in a labeling and registration obligation for cats. This could have negative consequences for animal welfare, reports Tierschutzbund . Such a law would help make illegal animal trade more difficult and to make it easier to identify outdated cats. Dr. Romy Zeller, specialist for pets, has highlighted the advantages of the planned regulation: she could relieve overcrowded animal shelters and reduce the number of exposed cats.

The situation around the cats in the S-Bahn not only raises questions about the correct handling of pets, but also reflects the challenges that animal welfare organizations and animal shelters are facing today. With 15.9 million cats in Germany, these animals are still the most frequently kept pets. But the overcrowding in animal shelters through orphaned kitten and exposed cats remains a serious problem.

The incident in Cologne not only provoked the authorities' direct intervention, but also illuminates the need to think about animal welfare laws and actively support them. While animals need protection and a new chance of a good home in many cases, it is important to sharpen the legal framework in order to better prevent such situations in the future.