Community cats

management in Barcelona

Agnès Dufau

President Plataforma Gatera

Who we are

• Plataforma Gatera is an Animal Welfare Organisation based in Barcelona

• Created in 2005 we are working to improve cats welfare and protection

in Barcelona

• Plataforma Gatera coordinates 19 associations working to improve cats

welfare: Colonies management program

Rescue and rehoming of abandoned cats

Promotion of responsible ownership

• We are working with the Barcelona City Council to promote the humane

management of community cats since 2007

Barcelona: The legal framework

Animal Protection Law of Cataluña – 2008 (Decreto Legislativo 2/2008, de 15 de abril (“Texto refundido de la “Ley de protección de los animales”)

Cats, as a species (felis catus) are always considered as companion animals (Definition- article 3.b)

Municipalities are responsible to control abandoned, lost and free-roaming animals (article 16.1)

It is prohibited to kill healthy companion animals in Cataluña (article11.2)

Barcelona Local Regulation concerning animals protection – 2003 (Ordenanza sobre la protección, la tenencia y la venta de animales del 22/12/2003)

The city council will promote cats colonies for abandoned or free-roamng cats, as an alternative to killing (article 19.5)

Why controlled colonies?

• TNR and managing controlled colonies is the

only legal and economically sustainable

option available in Cataluña.

• Community cats colonies management is the

only effective and ethical option to control

cats population

Trap/remove/kill is not efficient

Rehoming facilities (shelters) are not the

solution for all cats: economically

unsustainable; ethologically confinement

may generate high level of stress /

suffering

Colony management

Since 2007 the city council promotes a a humane management of community cats through a specific program

The program is based on TNR and aims to promote Colony Management including:

Veterinary follow-up

Protected areas for the cats

Colony monitoring

Training and registration of volunteers

Public Controlled Colonies program

Stakeholders:

Barcelona City Council

AWO through the “Cat

Committee” (Plataforma Gatera

and Progat)

Animals Protection Office (OPAB)

District Contact person

+ Local Police,

+ Citizens,

+ Companies,

+ Feeders,

+ Cats….

Colony log and monitoring

Barcelona controlled colonies map

The City Council and community cats

City Council definition:

“The City promotes the controlled colonies model which allow citizens to enjoy these animals in the city, while decreasing the problems of overpopulation and ensuring a proper integration of cats in the urban reality”. (www.bcn.cat/adopta/es)

• Since 2007 the Barcelona city-council promotes the humane management of free-roaming cats population through a specific program (Gestió de Colonies de Gats Urbans).

• In 2009 NGOs started to get organized working together with the local government towards several objectives: Improving cat welfare through the humane control of free-roaming cats.

Reducing citizens complaints regarding nuisances caused by cats

Improve the coexistence between citizens and cats

TNR program working options

• The city council commitment to the TNR program allows the NGOs to develop their work in 2 different ways:

AWO Collaboration Agreement with the City Council

A grant is allowed to each district on a yearly basis for the AWOs to spend in private veterinary clinics (neutering surgeries only). The AWOs have to follow a strict procedure and can use the clinic of their choice.

(1859 cats neutered in 2012)

Neutering Centre

The centre opened in June 2009 and his managed by a veterinarian. It is dedicated to neutering healthy animals only; no other medical or surgeries can be undertaken in the installation. Centre users are authorized volunteers from recognized registered AWO.

(977 cats neutered in 2012)

Municipal Neutering Centre

• Opened in June 2009

• Allows to speed up neutering

process

• No other surgery than neutering

is performed

• Free service: especially useful

for the smallest NGOs

• Users: authorised volunteers

from registered NGOs (80

users)

• Average 1000 neutering / year

Education: from feeder to colony manager

Volunteers workshops (since 2010):

administration, NGOs, veterinarians,

local police.

Educational material: Best Practices

leaflet; city council leaflet (Cats

responsible ownership)

Official Identification card for

registered volunteers who manage

colonies (June 2013)

Results (2012)

• 2836 cats neutered through the City Council

program

• 598 registered colonies (407 in 2009)

• 8.515 “controled” cats

• 189 citizens requests: 179 “positive requests”: citizens asking for an intervention to

improve cats welfare

10 “ negative requests”: citizens asking for an intervention due to

problems/ nuisance caused by cats.

(Between 2012 and 2011 citizens requests decrease by 35%)

Comprehensive approach needed

New colonies are usually caused by the arrival of newly abandoned or lost un-neutered cats and their offspring .

The arrival of new individuals in the colonies, new born or lost or abandoned cat is the main slow down issue of the program.

A comprehensive approach to reduce feline overpopulation is needed, including the promotion of Responsible Ownership

Communication and education campaigns should be implemented simultaneously to TNR programs to succeed in the community cats population management.

Conclusions

• Since 2009 9.365 cats have been neutered within the city council program and all stakeholders consider the program a success in terms of reduction of citizens’ complaints, control of cats’ population and improvement of cat welfare

• Barcelona is a clear example of the possibility to implement a no-kill approach involving the NGOs as key stakeholders of a public policy

• The NGOs and the city council are aware that results could be improved by improving cat responsible ownership culture

• Responsible ownership campaigns and a better enforcement of the existing Catalan Animal Protection Law are the challenges we are facing:

A comprehensive approach to the issue of feline overpopulation is necessary to lead to a long lasting solution for the benefits of the cats and the community.

The CAROcat project

An innovative tool to promote cats

responsible ownership and the

humane management of

community cat populations

A practical information system for

policy makers, veterinarians, law

professionals, NGOs and citizens

Behind the website: Vier Pfoten;

Istituto G.Caporale; FVE; EU

Commission

www.carocat.eu

Thank you for your attention

More information: www.plataformagatera.org