Every day, hidden among the stones, resorts and streets of Fuerteventura, more kittens are born than can survive.
Most die young: run over, hungry or sick.
It is a silent but daily reality. An invisible emergency that causes a lot of pain.
But there is a concrete and respectful solution: sterilization.
Sterilize cats in Fuerteventura means stopping the suffering before it starts. It means preventing other kittens from being born without a future, in an already overcrowded colony or at best closed in the bathroom of some volunteer.
Sterilize a cat saves lives: fewer kittens, more health
Each unplanned litter increases the risk of abandonment, illness and early death.
Even when a kitten finds a home, it does so in place of another already waiting for adoption.
Reducing births is not “against nature”: it is a responsible choice, to restore a balance that man has altered.
But sterilizing is not just a matter of numbers.
It also has important health benefits for the animal:
● Prevents reproductive cancers, such as uterine or testicular cancer.
● Dramatically reduces the risk of mammary tumors in females, if performed
before the first heat.
● Lowers the risk of serious infections such as pyometra (infection of the uterus).
● Decreases the risk of spreading communicable diseases between cats, such as FIV
(feline immunodeficiency) and FeLV (feline leukemia).
📌 These diseases are unfortunately very common in Fuerteventura, especially among cats
who live in the wild or come into contact with other infected animals. They are transmitted through bites, mating, and territorial fights, making prevention even more urgent.
Neutering a cat, therefore, means protecting it from serious risks and, at the same time, limiting the circulation of potentially lethal infections in the island’s feline population.
C.E.R.: the right way to protect those who live on the streets
For cats living in the wild, the most effective and humane method is the C.E.R. – Capture,
Sterilization, Release.
It consists of ethically capturing free cats, taking them to the clinic to put the chip and
sterilize them, and then release them into their territory.
After sterilization, individuals become more sedentary and calm, the
risk of contagion and the continuous birth of litters condemned to the street is avoided.
C.E.R. is a small gift of dignity. Allows cats to live in their environment in a
healthier and safer, reducing problems also for the community and for the balance
ecosystem.
Feline colonies: a shared commitment between citizens and institutions
The law is clear: cats living on the street are the responsibility of municipal bodies
(and of the Cabildo for protected areas).
They have to take care of the registration of feline colonies, promote sterilization,
guarantee basic veterinary care and collaborate with local associations and citizens.
📌 To access public sterilization programs, it is mandatory to register the
colony in the municipal register.
Registration makes visible a reality that is often ignored and allows volunteers to operate
with stand.
Without registration, cats remain invisible and those who help them are left alone.
If your town hall is not complying with these obligations, don’t remain silent: inform,
Report, ask. With respect, but firmly.
You can make a difference too
You don’t need to be an experienced volunteer to help.
Canst:
● Sterilize your cat, even if it lives alone in the house (it is required by law).
● Talk to those close to you, to raise awareness.
● Report unregistered colonies.
● Ask your town hall to enforce the law.
● Support sterilization campaigns with a donation or your time.
