Free-living cats are a permanent and legally protected component of the urban ecosystem (see: Art. 21 of the Act of 21 August 1997 on the protection of animals – Journal of Laws of 2003, No. 106, item. 1002, as amended). According to the abovementioned law, they contstitute a national good and should be provided with conditions that are conducive to their development and free existence. Free-living cats  are not stray animals and as such they must not be captured, taken away or hindered from living in a given place. 

At present, the cat shelters located in the housing estates selected for the project are made up of old racks and cardboard boxes wrapped in tape – due to their unsightly appearance, some residents have called for them to be replaced or removed. The estate administrations are not legally allowed to do away with these houses or capture the cats, which leads to a lot of social tension among neighbours and between the cooperative/neighbourhood community council and the residents. A large part of the community members is aware of the existence of these animals and try to help them, especially in winter, by feeding them or leaving quilts, blankets and old towels in their bedding.  To address these issues, some cooperatives opt for factory-built houses offered by private companies. However, these houses do not meet the basic safety requirements for these animals. Hence the pressing need for a workshop that will yield designs for functional and safe structures that at the same time will be aesthetically integrated into the given architectural context.