Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Quintana Roo water utility CAPA has ordered two community cats removed from its offices in Chetumal, citing health and safety regulations, a move that has sparked criticism from employees who say the felines pose no problems.
Abel Darío Oxté Medina, manager of the CAPA (Comisión de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado) office in the Othón P. Blanco municipality, issued Circular No. Capa-G-443-2026 on February 19, 2026, prohibiting animals in all work areas. The directive states that animals represent a sanitary risk due to potential contamination from feces, urine, parasites, and microorganisms, and warns that non-compliance could lead to administrative sanctions.
The two cats—a black cat named Cecilia and her tabby daughter—are mother and daughter, estimated to be four to five years old, sterilized, and have lived at the agency’s offices on Independencia and Insurgentes streets for years. Employees described them as community cats that do not interfere with work and have never caused incidents.
“They don’t do their business inside the offices, and no coworker has filed formal complaints,” one worker said, adding that she was singled out for feeding the cats but emphasized they are community animals, not pets belonging to any individual.
Staff members argue the decision stems from internal conflicts rather than genuine health concerns. They pointed to other issues in the building, such as humidity, ant infestations, dusty windows, broken light bulbs, and poor overall conditions, which they say pose more obvious sanitary risks.
The case has begun circulating on social media, with calls to find the cats a safe home. CAPA has not indicated whether it will reconsider the removal order.
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