Spanish municipalities expand cat colony control using CER method

Local governments in Spain are scaling up the Capture‑Esterilisation‑Return (CER) programme to manage community cat colonies. The city council of Jaén issued an €80,000 public tender for a two‑year contract that includes capture, sterilisation, micro‑chipping, rabies vaccination and deworming, with an expected 245 veterinary interventions per year and ongoing census updates. In the Canary Islands, the municipality of Tijarafe has already controlled 27 colonies, protecting around 270 cats through funding, veterinary care and volunteer support. Meanwhile, the council of Pájara launched a public appeal for responsible cat ownership, urging owners to micro‑chip and sterilise kittens before six months, as required by Spain’s 2023 animal‑welfare law. Councilor José Benito and mayor Alejandro Jorge highlighted the link between controlling feral cats and preserving the municipality’s protected natural areas, thanking local animal‑protection groups for their daily assistance.