Lack of control in Orihuela Costa’s feline colonies raises concerns

Volunteers and coastal managers criticise the City Council's lack of support in sterilisation and treatment efforts

Despite a plan announced by the Orihuela City Council last July to control the growing number of cat colonies in Orihuela Costa and Montepinar, volunteers and local managers feel increasingly abandoned. They accuse the City Council of not providing the necessary support and funds for the treatment and sterilisation of the animals, leaving them to cover all expenses themselves.

Eight months ago, the City Council acknowledged the uncontrolled rise of feline colonies across various parts of the municipality, highlighting the health risks posed to residents. The health department, led by Councilor Irene Celdrán, expressed concern that these colonies, often fed without permission, were creating serious public health issues. The plan, as outlined, was to begin action in Orihuela Costa and Montepinar before expanding to the other districts and the city centre.

However, the president of the Orihuela Costa Feline Colonies Association (Ascfoc), Isabel Befán, argues that the City Council has not delivered on its promises. She claims, “All the effort that we volunteers have been putting into the control and care of our feline colonies is seriously damaged by the lack of collaboration from the City Council.” Befán added that this lack of support violates both national Animal Welfare laws and regional regulations.

In 2024, Orihuela received €12,413 in funding from the Alicante Provincial Council to tackle this issue, but Befán points out that since October, the council has only managed to carry out sterilisation for 28 cats across the coast. There are currently 60 colonies housing more than a thousand cats.

The situation has worsened during the mating season, with no sterilisation carried out in the past four weeks. Volunteers have been forced to bear the full cost of food, deworming, and sterilisation. In addition to these challenges, the City Council has chosen a veterinary clinic almost 40 km away in the centre of Orihuela for the procedure. Befán highlights the serious malpractice that followed the surgeries, with some cats returned in poor condition, dirty and without proper hygiene. Two cats required urgent medical attention after their operations.

Despite multiple complaints to the City Council about these issues, including a report made over four months ago, no action has been taken. The association has also requested that neighbourhood signs be provided in both Spanish and English to ensure proper feeding practices, but their efforts have so far resulted in only temporary paper signs that fail to withstand the weather.

New regulations, such as the Municipal Ordinance on Citizen Coexistence, now fine those caught feeding cats without authorisation, with fines of up to €750. However, volunteers argue that the focus should be on providing the necessary infrastructure to manage these colonies responsibly.

In recent developments, Orihuela Costa has trained 35 new managers who now hold feeder cards, part of an initiative to manage the colonies better. However, the association continues to call on the City Council to fulfill its obligations, noting that neighbouring municipalities like Torrevieja and Pilar de la Horadada are far better equipped to handle similar issues.

Befán concluded, “The City Council needs to take responsibility and start taking the steps necessary to comply with Animal Welfare laws, as our efforts are not enough to handle this issue alone.”

Also of interest: Plans finalised for new private hospital in Orihuela Costa

Image: Sezgin Kaya/Pexels