Cat colonies have become one of the major challenges in urban wildlife management in many Spanish cities. Far from being a minor issue, their management involves coordinating city councils, veterinary associations, animal welfare organizations, and volunteers, with the aim of achieving a balance between animal welfare, public health, and community harmony.
In recent years, several municipalities have taken significant steps toward more ethical and organized management models , based on the TNR (trap, neuter, return) method and increasingly rigorous identification and monitoring systems. However, problems of abandonment, mistreatment, lack of public awareness, and even mass mortality events continue to emerge, highlighting the fragility of these colonies.
Reference models: Soria and its comprehensive colony control system
Soria has established itself as one of the most advanced examples of ethical management of feline colonies in Spain, thanks to the close collaboration between the City Council, the College of Veterinarians and organized volunteers, mainly through the Almas Gatunas Association.
Soria, December 30, 2025. The Soria City Council presented on that date a comprehensive management program that reinforces a line of work initiated years ago. Councilor Ana Alegre detailed an agreement with the College of Veterinarians, endowed with 23.000 euros , which officially integrates the work of volunteers, and the tendering of a specific contract for the control of pigeons and feral cat colonies, with 18.000 euros for each entity and a duration of two years.
The heart of the system is the TNR (trap-neuter-return) method , applied systematically and supported by its own database called Colfeso (Soria Feline Colonies) . This tool, connected to official identification records, makes it possible to know which volunteer captures each cat, which clinic it is treated at, what procedures are performed (sterilization, deworming, microchip identification), and who is responsible for its return, as well as recording any health incidents.
According to the data presented, 74 procedures were carried out in the capital in 2025 alone, and a total of 128 fully documented interventions have been performed since 2024. Historically, the College of Veterinarians reports records of approximately 500 to nearly 600 cats sterilized and dewormed , figures that place Soria in a very favorable position compared to other capital cities in terms of the ratio of animals treated per inhabitant.
Currently, work is underway with a map of between 21 and 24 cat colonies , of which approximately 17 are around 90% controlled through sterilization and deworming. This reduces both the risk of uncontrolled proliferation and the nuisance to the neighborhood. The next step set by the City Council is to consolidate this intervention in rural districts such as Oteruelos and Pedrajas , where the dynamics of the colonies differ from those in the urban center.
The agreement also includes the issuance of volunteer cards ; in 2025 alone, 19 accreditations were issued to people responsible for feeding and monitoring the cats' health and detecting any problems. In addition, new informational signs are being installed in the registered colonies to explain to the public how the program works, the importance of respecting authorized volunteers, and their legal obligations regarding animal protection.
The importance of volunteering and the social evolution surrounding community cats
In Soria and other municipalities, the human factor is the key to the daily survival of cat colonies . Volunteer Jennifer Gómez, from the Almas Gatunas Association , emphasized that caring for colonies involves very demanding work: daily feeding rounds, monitoring the health of each cat, capturing sick or unsterilized animals, coordinating with veterinary clinics, and often managing conflicts with some residents.
Gómez explained that health surveillance is continuous and that any sign of illness requires swift action and taking the animal to the veterinarian. However, she insists that there is still a significant lack of public awareness , pointing to problems such as the removal of feeding stations, food theft, and the presence of unidentified domestic cats that integrate into the colonies, hindering population control and fueling a sense of abandonment.
The president of the Veterinary Association, Rafael Laguens, has contextualized this effort within a broader social transformation : more and more people perceive pets as part of the family, and new animal protection legislation has solidified practices that have been implemented in Soria since 2019, such as microchip identification, systematic sterilization, and the promotion of responsible pet ownership education. For Laguens, the combination of education, microchipping, and sterilization forms an essential triad: it reduces abandonment, limits the reactivation of already controlled colonies, and improves both public health and the well-being of the cats themselves. This approach aligns with the idea that well-managed feline colonies can contribute to stability in the urban environment without generating overpopulation or serious conflicts.
The importance of having support facilities has also been highlighted , such as the municipal building used in Soria to temporarily house animals while they recover from veterinary procedures. The City Council has committed to improving this space, recognizing that these types of resources facilitate the work of volunteers and allow for more dignified care for the cats before they are returned to their territory.
Signage, regulation and coexistence: the case of Huesca and Baeza
While Soria consolidates a comprehensive model, other Spanish cities are advancing with complementary measures focused on coexistence and the regulation of public space use . A clear example is Huesca, where the City Council has installed specific signs next to the food containers for the Controlled Cat Colonies , with the aim of informing and raising awareness among the population.
At these locations, some of which feature cat-head shaped containers, it is explained that the main purpose is population control through the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) method , described as an ethical and effective mechanism to prevent the overpopulation of stray cats. The information also reminds visitors that all domestic cats must be neutered and microchipped , in accordance with state animal welfare regulations.
The signage in Huesca also includes a series of very clear prohibitions : mistreating, harassing, or killing the cats; abandoning animals in the colonies; feeding them without authorization; walking dogs off-leash in the area; or damaging the locations and structures designated for the project. The aim is to protect both the animals and the authorized individuals who care for them from violent or antisocial behavior that has already been reported by organizations and the city council itself.
Municipal sources highlight that budget allocations for feline colonies and other actions concerning urban fauna have grown significantly in recent years, with the intention of preventing saturation situations and responding to animal welfare problems in a planned manner.
In the town of Baeza, in the province of Jaén, the City Council has announced that it will directly manage all the feral cat colonies in the municipality and its surrounding areas starting January 1st. The measure aims, on the one hand, to improve the quality of life for stray cats and, on the other, to ensure a more harmonious coexistence with the residents.
From that date, only personnel authorized by the City Council will be allowed to feed the colonies , and penalties will be imposed on those who feed the animals without permission. The Councilor for the Environment, Antonio Jesús Ruiz, explained that those wishing to volunteer as feeders can apply through the Consumer Information Office (OMIC), in order to integrate interested citizens into a regulated and supervised program.
Ruiz thanked the volunteers who have helped feed and care for the cats over the past few years, and assured that the City Council will continue to allocate economic and human resources to improve the colonies, trying to professionalize their management without losing the social involvement that has allowed them to be maintained until now.
New municipal contracts and services: the Ames example
Another approach is being taken in the Galician municipality of Ames, where a comprehensive contract is being processed for the collection of abandoned domestic animals, animal control, and management of feral cat colonies . Only one company, Centro Galego de Adopción y Rescate de Animais SL, has submitted a bid for the contract, valued at approximately €401.000 for two years .
This contract includes a 24-hour service for the collection of lost or abandoned animals, care at a municipal shelter, and the management of feral cat colonies, as well as awareness campaigns in schools. The City Council emphasizes the need for a Municipal Animal Shelter , which would serve as a refuge for homeless pets, an adoption center, and a central hub for colony management.
The contract documentation specifies that the colony management plan will include sterilization and controlled release , veterinary care and monitoring of stray or rejected animals, along with activities aimed at raising neighborhood awareness about the importance of responsible pet ownership.
Until now, Ames had an agreement with the Cambados Animal Shelter to provide these services. However, the approval of the animal welfare law in 2023 has made it necessary to formalize a specific contract that details animal collection, animal control, and the management of feral cat colonies, adjusting the protocols to the new legal requirements.
This project also includes plans to gradually extend the colony management plan throughout the municipality . To this end, the City Council has already recycled and refurbished containers, some of them decorated, specifically for feeding and managing the cat colonies, with the aim of organizing feeding areas and minimizing mess and disturbances.
Health emergencies and mistreatment: when colonies are left at risk
Alongside advances in planning and regulations, situations continue to arise that test the response capacity of administrations and caregivers . One particularly worrying case has been recorded in the municipality of Mogán, in southern Gran Canaria, where a massive and unexpected cat mortality has been detected in the Puerto Rico area.
Since December 5, 2025, volunteers from the Playa del Cura Stray Cats collective , which manages several cat colonies in the area, have located numerous cats that appeared healthy but were later found dead, the cause of death still unknown. Many of the cases are concentrated around the Grupotel Revoli , a landmark used solely to delineate the affected area.
The caretakers of the colonies have reported that, to date, no systematic veterinary analyses have been carried out to determine the cause of death. Volunteers themselves are removing the bodies, and in some cases, the carcasses have remained visible for several days, causing concern among both residents and tourists who frequent the area.
The impact on the colonies is very high: some, which had around 70 cats, have been reduced to fewer than 20. The animals that remain alive are considered especially vulnerable to possible new outbreaks, and the lack of clear information about the origin of the problem fuels the concern of those who care for them.
The group insists that its goal is not to point fingers, but to stop the deaths . They are demanding immediate measures to protect and monitor active colonies, the collection and analysis of bodies by veterinary professionals, and a review of any video surveillance systems that might provide clues. They are also asking for the collaboration of residents, visitors, and animal welfare specialists to gather data and protect surviving cats.
For his part, the Environment Councillor of Mogán Town Hall, Raico Guerra , explained that the Council is aware of these findings and pointed out that the situation is reminiscent of a similar incident previously recorded in Playa de Mogán, where the deaths were attributed to a virus after studying the symptoms. The only specimen that was recently rescued alive showed signs consistent with a viral infection, so, according to the councillor, there is no evidence of poisoning . The Town Hall is focusing its resources on sterilizing the colonies and has reinforced the nighttime police presence in the affected areas as a preventative measure.
In other towns, similar incidents have been reported that call into question the protection of cat colonies. In Ontinyent, for example, a critically ill cat was abandoned on Christmas Day in a cat colony , wrapped in plastic and blankets, without receiving urgent veterinary care. The caretakers, members of the Backstreet Cats collective, located the animal hours after the presumed hit-and-run, already in agony, and had to transfer her to a clinic in a neighboring town due to the lack of emergency services in the city.
The veterinary diagnosis confirmed severe injuries to the jaw, tongue, and palate , as well as the need to remove an eye and a prolonged hospital stay. Those responsible for the colony have launched a fundraising campaign to cover veterinary expenses that already exceed €200 and are expected to continue rising. They are also seeking witnesses who can explain why, despite the clear severity of the accident, the animal was left in the colony without proper care.
These cases are compounded by reports of cats found with pellets in their bodies in municipalities like Fraga, situations that affected residents describe as intentional abuse. These incidents, though isolated, demonstrate that, despite improvements in legal frameworks and public resources, violent behavior and a lack of respect for community cats persist, hindering any ethical management policies.
The experience of cities like Soria, Huesca, Baeza, Ames, Mogán, and Ontinyent demonstrates that managing feral cat colonies goes far beyond simply placing feeders . It requires stable investment, coordination with veterinary professionals, rigorous record-keeping systems, clear regulations on who feeds the cats and how, and, above all, an informed citizenry that understands that sterilization, microchipping, and respect for caregivers are key to ensuring that community cats can live in better conditions without creating constant conflicts in the urban environment.
