In three years, 500 cats have found their true homes!
The cage-free shelter and veterinary clinic “Kaķa sirds” (Cat Heart), opened in September 2022, celebrates its third anniversary this autumn and marks another important milestone — its 500th cat adoption. “Kaķa sirds” operates under the voluntary cat-rescue organization “Kaķu palīdzības centrs REMI” (Remi Cat Assistance Center) and was established in cooperation with LNK Industries and the LNK Charity Fund.
Most of the adopted cats are over five years old — survivors of life’s challenges who have often lost trust in people. When they arrive at the shelter and later move to new homes, many need time to adapt. Sometimes it takes several months before they are ready to love and trust again. To help them regain health and peace while they wait for their forever families, the cats are given unlimited time to live in a home-like environment at “Kaķa sirds”. This is possible thanks to the care and patience of the REMI team and volunteers, as well as the support of the wider community.
The creation and ongoing development of the “Kaķa sirds” shelter is supported by the LNK Charity Fund, which ensures the centre’s sustainable operation by maintaining the building and supporting daily needs.
Artjoms Milovs, Chairman of the Board of LNK Industries and the LNK Charity Fund, shares his reflections:
“When we built ‘Kaķa sirds’, we did not have grand plans or measurable goals in terms of hundreds of rescued cats. We simply wanted Riga to have a place where cats in distress could feel safe, receive proper medical care, and wait for their true homes. A place where people who care could do meaningful work — by saving a cat, we also save a part of our own humanity. We never imagined that three years later, we would be celebrating 500 adoptions. But good things tend to grow — when something is done with heart, there are no limits to what can be achieved. Behind each of these 500 cats, and many more who have recovered, stand wonderful people who care — the REMI team, the Fund’s people, and many others who make a difference.”
Laura Podžuka, Co-founder of Kaķu Palīdzības Centrs REMI, adds:
“Five hundred adoptions — that’s more than just a number. It’s 500 new lives — for both cats and humans. Sometimes it’s a lifelong bond; other times, just a brief encounter that reminds us how big and important love truly is. This milestone brings our team immense joy and shows how much can be achieved when people unite for a good and noble cause. Every paw matters — and we will continue our mission for a better world, for them and for all of us, telling stories of compassion, connection, and care.”
Located in Riga, Pārdaugava, at Kauguru iela 10, “Kaķa sirds” was opened in September 2022. The project was created through the collaboration of LNK Industries, the LNK Charity Fund, and the volunteer organization Kaķu Palīdzības Centrs REMI. Its mission is not only to help cats in need but also to raise awareness about the importance of animal welfare, the value of life, and the long-term creation of an empathetic, caring society.
