Benidorm starts the stray cat sterilization campaign, with which 240 cats will be treated

The Departments of Health and the Environment have already started the annual sterilization campaign for cats that live in urban colonies and without a known owner, with which 240 copies will be treated, according to data transferred by the mayor of both areas, Mónica Gomez.

18,600 euros will be allocated to this campaign, of which 12,361.33 are covered through a grant from the Provincial Council of Alicante. Also as in previous years, there is the involvement of the Official College of Veterinarians of Alicante, with whom a collaboration agreement was signed, so that "the eight veterinary clinics of Benidorm actively participate in this campaign, what is key to the development and success of this sterilization action”.

Gómez recalled that "in Benidorm, the well-known CES method is always applied, which consists of capturing the specimens, which are transferred to the veterinary centers, where they are sterilized and later reintroduced in the same colonies." The entire process of capturing and transporting the animals to the clinics, as well as their subsequent release, is carried out by a specialized company contracted by the City Council.

In addition to sterilization, "all cats and queens undergo a health exam, are dewormed and are given the rabies vaccine."

According to figures provided by the mayor, "the fieldwork prior to the start of the campaign has made it possible to identify up to 39 colonies distributed throughout all areas of Benidorm, totalling approximately 900 specimens."

"We find -he added- that the number of colonies is increasing based on the activity of some people, who surely act with good intentions, but who transgress the Municipal Environment Ordinance, which establishes the prohibition of feeding the animals on roads and public areas. Sometimes, these people use food scraps, which not only attracts cats but also rodents, even being a breeding ground for certain species of insects.
The councillor pointed out that "with this and other measures, we believe that it will be possible that in a few years, the population of stray cats that constitute urban colonies will stabilize and cease to be a potential problem that may even affect public health. .