Spain animal welfare: High rates of cat rescue and calls for law enforcement

A recent report by Sanicat reveals that 8 out of 10 cats in Spanish households arrived through situations of vulnerability, either via rescue from the street or adoption from shelters. In regions like Navarra, over 51% of owners reported finding their pets abandoned or without owners. The study highlights significant concerns regarding animal abandonment, abuse, and the overpopulation of street cats.

Data from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda indicates that 95% of cats entering animal collection centers lack microchips, which hinders identification and reunification with owners.

In response to these challenges, associations working with feline colonies across 38 Spanish provinces are calling for the enforcement of Law 7/2023. Activists are demanding that local and regional governments provide the necessary economic resources and veterinary agreements to implement the Capture-Esterilize-Return (CER) method, rather than relying on capture and sacrifice. Volunteers report that they are currently self-funding the management of these colonies due to a lack of municipal programs and budgets.