Left Behind

The life of a street cat usually starts with a human decision: A once beloved pet has been abandoned by its caretaker. Moving home or going on vacation may be one of the reasons. Or that taking responsibility for daily care and veterinary expenses has become too much of a burden.

In Spain alone, tens of thousands of stray cats are collected by shelters every year, not including felines that still live outdoors or in informal colonies. These cats, along with their offspring, form street cat colonies. Some adapt to outdoor life, establishing stable groups around homes, businesses, and parks. Others are more sociable and could live indoors if given the chance. Animal welfare organizations in Spain address this situation by combining colony management with adoption work.

These organizations vaccinate, microchip, and sterilize cats before putting them up for adoption, thus improving their chances of finding stable homes. Meanwhile, many municipalities now run or support trap-neuter-return programs that sterilize community cats, maintain stable colonies, and reduce new births over time.

In 2023, Spain’s animal welfare law (Ley 7/2023) has established a framework designed to protect the rights, dignity, and physical well-being of companion animals. Although the law lacks protocols and regulatory measures to take full effect, it has contributed to more cats being sterilized, identified, and cared for. In the end, a growing number of adoptable animals are being moved from the streets into homes.