The Vielha e Mijaran City Council has approved the Municipal Feline Colony Management Program, establishing the CER (Capture, Sterilization, and Return) protocol. This framework aims to coordinate municipal services, veterinarians, and citizen collaborators for more effective management.
Since 2016, the Council has carried out occasional sterilizations, but the current scale of the issue, with approximately 42 colonies and around 700 cats registered in May 2026, requires a more organized approach. The new program regulates census, captures, sterilizations with municipal microchips, veterinary care, and monitoring.
Mayor Juan Antonio Serrano acknowledged the efforts of citizens who have cared for the colonies and pledged increased resources and municipal continuity. Concurrently, work is underway on a future Animal Protection and Welfare Ordinance.
An initial intensive campaign for 2026 has already been contracted, with a maximum cost of 14,520 euros (VAT included), to sterilize up to 80 cats. This initiative prioritizes colonies based on their reproductive pressure and health status.
For 2027, a state subsidy of 80,000 euros has been requested for a comprehensive project valued at 118,955 euros. This project would enable an intensive CER intervention on at least 316 animals, including care for injured cats, improvement of feeding stations, and training for collaborators.
A registry will soon be opened for individuals who care for colonies, to gather information and understand their needs, followed by a meeting to define the next steps.
