Cats face dangers from wolverines in Kontiolahti, North Karelia as new initiative calls for stricter laws

The free movement of cats poses various dangers to both nature and the cats themselves, yet laws surrounding the issue remain largely ambiguous. In the eastern parts of Kontiolahti in North Karelia, dozens of cats have gone missing over the late summer. The suspected culprit is a wolverine that has been spotted in the area.

According to predator liaison officer Antti Suontama, while there is no definitive information regarding the disappearances, credible sightings have been made. “There have been reports of a wolverine attacking a cat in a yard and taking it away,” he noted. Many wolverine sightings have been documented, and social media groups have shared missing cat notices, with some even calling for permits to capture or remove the wolverine. Suontama added that obtaining such permits would be unlikely, emphasizing that, legally, cat owners are at a disadvantage compared to wolverines.

In Tohmajärvi, another cat faced a grim fate earlier this week, prompting the police to seek information about a free-roaming cat that was shot in someone’s yard. Detective Chief Inspector Roope Heikkinen mentioned that cases of cat deaths are periodically investigated. He stressed that protecting cats from two- or four-legged threats, as well as traffic, falls under the owner’s obligation. In rural areas, it is up to the owner to decide whether to keep their cat on a leash or in an enclosure.

While urban regulations do not explicitly require cats to be leashed like dogs, owners must ensure their cats do not access swimming areas or playgrounds. The law does not interfere with a cat’s movement in rural areas, though abandonment is prohibited.

A citizens’ initiative launched this summer seeks a change in the interpretation of laws regarding outdoor cats, proposing a complete ban on free-roaming cats outside their owners’ properties, including in their own yards. Jarkko Koskinen, the initiative’s lead, cites the detrimental impact on protected wildlife and the risks to the cats themselves in advocating for this change.