The goal of the project is the sustainable and humane management of the Apolinářky Cats population in accordance with the TNRC (Trap-Neuter-Return-Care) methodology.
Our care for the colony prevents further uncontrolled reproduction of the animals and, at the same time, provides the cats with the opportunity to live a dignified life even on the streets, thanks to health monitoring, veterinary care, and high-quality food.
The cat sanctuary is located in Prague 2, where there is a colony of stray cats. The Apolinářky Cats project is not just about feeding. It is a professionally managed program based on the TRNC method (Trap-Neuter-Return-Care), which is the only humane and effective way to regulate the animal population in enclosed areas.
What we’ve achieved together since 2022: Stabilizing the colony: To date, 54 animals have been spayed or neutered (30 female cats and 24 male cats).
By the end of 2023, the animals we had spayed or neutered accounted for 90% of the population at that time.
Public donations: Thanks to your contributions, we have provided over 265,000 CZK in assistance to the cats (neutering, veterinary care, food, insulated shelters, and facilities).
Internal support: The project is backed by 112 doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who signed a petition supporting the continuation of the neutering program.
Why do we need your help right now? Despite two years of successful work and the drafting of an official agreement—which the hospital had promised as recently as March 2026 – the collaboration came to an abrupt halt in May. The hospital has imposed a feeding ban that will not drive the animals away but will condemn them to starvation and disease right within the enclosed grounds.
Even under the current circumstances, we strive to ensure that the cats have access to food and water, veterinary care, and shelter from inclement weather. Among them is Káťa – you can recognize her by her white “socks” and a congenital defect on her front paw, where her pads are fused together. Káťa is a fighter, but without a safe haven, she is extremely vulnerable in the center of Prague. Caring for her and all the others is now, understandably, much more challenging for us than it was when the hospital was cooperating with us.
Here’s how your donations will be used: Caring for the cats on the premises: Providing high-quality food and monitoring, even under difficult conditions.
Veterinary care: Continuing to provide professional care for the cats living out their lives on the premises.
Advocacy and mediation: Funding legal and professional efforts aimed at resolving the situation.
How much does each one cost? ● 6,500 CZK = one month of high-quality food and basic care for the entire colony in temporary housing. ● 2,500 CZK = one hour of expert consultation, which is key to breaking a deadlock. ● 1,100 CZK = construction of a covered cat shelter. ● 600 CZK = construction of 1 winter shelter, including insulation. ● 550 CZK = the creation of one educational post (text + graphics) that debunks myths and helps spread awareness about the Apolinářky’s situation.
Thank you for standing by us and the Apolinář cats after these two years of our “silent struggle” behind closed doors. ❤️ The Tlapro Team
Thanks to the agreement we’ve secured with the hospital, we’ll also be renovating the facilities for the Apolinář cats.
That’s why we’re already planning the renovation. We’ve decided to increase our goal by 20,000 CZK, bringing the total to 170,000 CZK. This amount will allow us to purchase cat shelters and winter kennels, which will help the Apolinář cats stay safe during the cold months.
Thank you for helping to keep the Apolinář cats safe.🐈🐾 If you’d like to join us, every bit of help makes a big difference.
9/10/2026
Petition Submission and Meeting with VFN
Just yesterday, we couldn’t have imagined that the petition’s goals would be nearly met on the very day of its submission. We gathered today at the Apolinář building with some of you to submit the petition to VFN. Thank you to everyone who came to support us on site and celebrated with us the incredible total of 10 848 signatures on the petition (both online and in person) in support of reinstating the spay/neuter program.
As recently as this morning, we had no idea that Director Ján Dudra would personally accept the petition and give us the opportunity to discuss the current situation with him. We agreed that spaying and neutering is the solution to any risks associated with the presence of cats on the premises and that we are prepared to work on a cooperation agreement that will respect the requirements of both parties. The director promised to resume feeding the cats on the premises at the feeding stations and to provide the necessary facilities in the form of shelters for the winter, under terms to be agreed upon.
We will continue to work with the General University Hospital (VFN) on the specific rules, and we believe that we will be able to establish a model that, by ensuring care and continuing to trap and neuter cats, will achieve the goals of the neutering program – reducing the number of cats on the premises. We appreciate the open approach of VFN Director Ján Dudra and his commitment to continue collaborating with us and his team in future meetings.
A huge thank you goes first and foremost to all of you who signed the petition and stood up for a professional and humane approach to stray cats. You’ve shown that bans on feeding don’t solve the problem – not just at Apolinář, but anywhere else. And that even homeless animals deserve our protection. And that caring for these animals should be an integral part of spay-and-neuter programs. We’d also like to extend a special thank you to everyone who contributed by communicating directly with local government officials and politicians. We’d also like to thank Adam Komers for his support during today’s meeting.
Last but not least, we’d like to thank Prague City Councilor Tomáš Slabihoudek, P2 Deputy Mayor Jan Recman, Tomáš Čada, and other elected officials who got involved in resolving this issue.
Our work isn’t over yet – we still need to draft an agreement and, most importantly, prepare for the fall trapping campaign!
Please continue to stand with us and the homeless cats. We still have a lot more to tell you about the Apolinářky cats. With gratitude, the Tlapro Team
❗ P.S.: We’re not ending the petition just yet – it will remain open until a specific agreement is signed between VFN and Tlapro. P.S. 2: A second article was published on Seznam Zprávy: https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/domaci-zivot-v-cesku-navrat-kocek-k-porodnici-u-apolinare-je-blizko-nemocnice-se-chce-dohodnout-315079
8/31/2026
On Monday, August 24, 2026, a scheduled site inspection took place at the U Apolináře complex, attended by representatives from Prague 2, the City of Prague, MěVS, and the General University Hospital (VFN). The purpose was to prepare for an independent monitoring of the cats, which will take place at the complex in the coming weeks. Representing VFN were the head of security and a spokesperson, who reiterated the hospital’s position. ❗️ The VFN’s absurd stance – it continues to reject cat stations and cites hygiene concerns. To date, however, it has not provided evidence of any real risk or case of infection, even though cats have lived on the premises for over 30 years. It was mentioned at the meeting that the hospital is currently having a hygiene report prepared. No one has seen any previous report; the hospital refused to provide it at the first meeting. Meanwhile, the hospital has implemented measures that have made it impossible to trap the cats or provide them with proper care. As a result, the cats are being fed under difficult conditions, which causes them greater stress that could lead to a deterioration in their health.
❌ Starve them? A dangerous and cruel mistake! The General University Hospital constantly repeats the argument that if the cats stop receiving food, they will leave the premises on their own. But it doesn't work like that. Cats find something equally important for their survival in the premises – safety. A fox does not sleep or give birth where it hunts for food, but in the safest place in its territory. 💧 Ban on even plain water – the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture appealed to common sense and asked that the animals be provided with at least water, since there is no natural source nearby. Representatives of the General University Hospital (VFN) also rejected this request. From our point of view, this is a completely inhumane approach. 🚷 Pressure on employees – The General University Hospital is now strictly enforcing the feeding ban under threat of sanctions. Its position is creating a tense atmosphere among employees. Why are we surprised when management previously didn’t even bother to respond to their petition to maintain the spay/neuter program, signed by 112 of them, including doctors? No one has ever succeeded in getting cats out of the area. The solution is for all stakeholders to support a TNR program—the effectiveness of which depends directly on cat stations.
8/20/2026
Your support has literally blown us away. Together, you’ve raised a significant portion of our original goal of 125,000 CZK. We’re absolutely amazed and thank you so much.
Since the fight for the Apolinářky cats continues, we’ve decided to raise our goal to 150,000 CZK. This amount will allow us not only to address the current crisis but also to ensure the Apolinářky cats have food until the end of this year.
Thank you for standing with us and the Apolinářky cats. And if you’d like to join us, every bit of help makes a huge difference. 🐈🐾
8/8/2026
We’d like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your incredible support for the Apolinář cats.
When we launched this petition, we had no idea where it would take us. Within a few weeks, thousands of people joined us – you signed the petition, shared it, and sent us messages full of support and concern for the fate of cats you may have never even seen with your own eyes.
It is precisely thanks to your efforts and the signatures on the petition that the media has begun to take notice of the situation at Apolinář Hospital. This is an important step toward getting the hospital administration and other institutions to stop ignoring our expert arguments. It shows that protecting homeless cats and treating them humanely through spay/neuter programs (the TNRC method) is an issue that matters to the public, not just a small group of volunteers.
Without you, we would never have gained this visibility. Your voice has given the Apolinář cats something they could never have had on their own – a chance for someone to notice them.
Thank you for caring about them. Truly, from the bottom of our hearts.
Discussions Regarding the Apolinářky Cats 🏥🐾 On August 4th, a meeting took place attended by representatives from the General University Hospital (VFN), the Prague City Hall, Prague 2, the Municipal Veterinary Administration, and the Tlapro association. We went into the meeting with hope. Unfortunately, we cannot report any breakthrough.
❌ The position of the General University Hospital’s management remains unchanged. They continue to refuse to allow a cat station on the premises, citing hygiene concerns. To date, they have not backed up their reasoning with any risk assessment that would undermine the benefits of the spay/neuter program. At the same time, they have not offered any solution of their own to the situation. It has not budged an inch. This stands in stark contrast to the hospital’s claim that it has no problem with the cats.
⚠️ The ban on feeding remains in effect. Yet the reality is relentless—the cats will not leave. They have been present at this location for more than 30 years. Here, they find safety and station that they cannot find elsewhere in the surrounding center of Prague. The ban will cause them nothing but hunger and thirst. Without cat stations, it is impossible to effectively carry out further trapping and neutering, which will inevitably lead to the cats breeding again. The hygiene risks cited by the hospital will thus persist.
🤝 We’re not giving up. To break the deadlock, the following steps have been proposed: 1️⃣ Independent monitoring of the site to provide up-to-date data on the colony’s status. 2️⃣ Exploring options for feeding the animals on neighboring properties not under the VFN’s administration. 🙏 We thank the representatives of the City of Prague, Prague 2, and the Veterinary Administration for the constructive discussion and their efforts to find a solution where the hospital has so far offered only bans.
7/28/2026
Here’s an update on the Apolinářky cats. 🐾 🏥 For decades, the grounds of the U Apolináře maternity hospital in Prague have been home to a colony of stray cats. These are shy animals that stay in parts of the grounds where patients and visitors don’t normally have access.
🧬 Tlapro has been caring for the colony since spring 2022. Our work is based on the TNRC method (trap–neuter–return–care). It is the only scientifically proven way to stop the animals from breeding and ensure they lead a dignified life through monitoring and care.
✅ It worked for two years: Starting in April 2022, with the approval of the General University Hospital’s (VFN) leadership at the time, we implemented a spay/neuter program. By the end of 2023, we had spayed or neutered 41 animals – 90% of the population at that time. ⚠️ First problems: In the fall of 2024, the hospital announced a ban on feeding. At the time, 112 VFN employees, who view the cats as part of the local community, opposed this inhumane measure. Tlapro joined the effort with its expert opinion, and “behind-closed-doors” negotiations began. ✨ Promise of an agreement: In December 2025, it looked like a victory—the hospital confirmed in writing that the project would be given a solid legal framework and that it would draft a cooperation agreement. ❌ Shock in May 2026: Following a change in hospital leadership, the hospital unilaterally cut off communication, refused to cooperate, and decided to remove the cats’ shelter. 📊 Our work in numbers: To date, 54 animals (30 female cats and 24 male cats) have been spayed or neutered on the premises. We have invested over 265,000 CZK from public donations into the care of these cats (spaying/neutering, veterinary care, food, insulated shelters, and facilities). It didn’t cost the hospital a single crown.
✍️ That’s why we launched a PETITION – our tool to: 1. Create legitimate pressure: We’re showing that the general public supports these professional standards, and institutions cannot ignore them. 2. Reject cruelty: We are calling for a return to the professional TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) method instead of ineffective bans that only lead to animal suffering. 3. Prevent examples of bad practice: We want to prevent irrational, cruel approaches from replacing humane solutions elsewhere.
5/24/2026
An unexpected turn of events: The hospital refused to cooperate, but we won’t abandon the cats!
For two years, we’ve been quietly negotiating to ensure the peace and safety of the Apolinář cats. As recently as March, things looked promising, but in May 2026 came the shock: the hospital’s new management announced that they were not interested in any agreement and were ending the partnership.
We consider this move a sign of untrustworthy behavior that undermines our joint efforts:
We have neutered 54 animals and stabilized the area.
We have invested over 265,000 CZK from your donations.
Management ignored the pleas of 112 of its own employees.
What does this mean now?
Banning feeding will not drive the cats away; it will only cause suffering right on the maternity hospital grounds. But we are not giving up! We are now directing your donations toward directly caring for the cats in these difficult conditions and toward legal and professional steps aimed at resolving the situation.
Thank you for standing by us even in this difficult moment. ❤️
12/26/2025
2025: From Rejection to Hope for a Systemic Solution
The beginning of 2025 brought an unexpectedly harsh reality check for the Apolinářka Cats project. In response to our official letter and a petition signed by 112 employees, hospital management informed us that they were not interested in formalizing a partnership and “do not want cats on the premises.” Unfortunately, this stance completely ignored the 16-year history of the local colony as well as scientific facts: the cats will not disappear from the premises simply by being banned—without professional regulation, control over their numbers and health will be lost, which directly contradicts expert opinions.
Since the situation had reached a deadlock and relations had become so strained that we had to enlist the services of a law firm, we decided to reach out to Dr. Jiří Pospíšil, a well-known animal rights advocate, to help us as a mediator in restarting the dialogue. Thanks to his involvement, negotiations with the hospital were successfully restarted and relations calmed down.
A year of patient effort and reasoned argumentation brought the long-awaited breakthrough in December: the hospital administration confirmed that the collaboration would be given a solid legal framework. Work began on drafting an agreement that would clearly define roles, conditions of access, and ensure the cats permanent security and peace of mind right on the premises. After years of twists and turns and unexpected situations, we believed we were finally in the home stretch.
12/27/2024
2024: A Year of Challenges, Quiet Diplomacy, and Enormous Internal Support
The year 2024 was marked by our efforts to find a systemic solution and establish a cooperation agreement with the hospital. We wanted professional care for the colony to become a respected part of the facility’s management, so we prepared informational leaflets for both staff and patients explaining the purpose of the spay/neuter program and the historical connection between the cats and Apolinář Hospital.
In September 2024, however, the project suffered a severe setback when the hospital announced a ban on feeding the animals without prior warning. We decided not to publicize the situation immediately and, instead of confrontation, to pursue a path of “quiet diplomacy” and patient negotiation behind closed doors to secure the preservation of monitored feeding stations for the cats’ peace of mind.
As part of this effort, we held face-to-face meetings with hospital representatives. The most significant moment of the year for us was in December, when those best qualified to speak on the matter stood up for the project’s continuation: 112 doctors, nurses, and other VFN employees signed a petition asking their leadership not to halt the spay/neuter program and to acknowledge that monitored feeding stations are the solution to the situation. However, since we received no concrete responses from hospital representatives following our in-person meetings or written and telephone follow-ups, we concluded the year by sending an official statement directly to the director, requesting a resolution to the situation.
For two years, we’ve been quietly negotiating to ensure the peace and safety of the Apolinář cats. As recently as March, things looked promising, but in May 2026 came the shock: the hospital’s new management announced that they were not interested in any agreement and were ending the partnership.We consider this move a sign of untrustworthy behavior that undermines our joint efforts:We have neutered 54 animals and stabilized the area.We have invested over 265,000 CZK from your donations.Management ignored the pleas of 112 of its own employees.What does this mean now?Banning feeding will not drive the cats away; it will only cause suffering right on the maternity hospital grounds. But we are not giving up! We are now directing your donations toward directly caring for the cats in these difficult conditions and toward legal and professional steps aimed at resolving the situation.Thank you for standing by us even in this difficult moment. ❤️