All the risks an unsterilised cat has are much higher for street cats, and it is vital we sterilize as many as possible. That is why it is the law that every Ayuntamiento in Spain is responsible for paying for trap neuter release (TNR). Every town has or should have their own way of doing it. In our town only a legally registered association like ours are allowed to capture street cats and take them to be sterilized.
It is vital for the health of the cats both male and female, that we do this. If we don't do it the cat
population very quickly gets out of control and diseases spread.

• Female cats can have 4-6 litters a year and around 30 babies a year.
• A male cat can impregnate multiple females a day fathering hundreds of babies per year.
• The constant contact with other cats spreads deadly diseases and infections (see our cat
  diseases and infections section) rapidly across colonies across vast areas.

Cat Colonies Are Vital For Many Reasons.

• There are the benefits of keeping rodents to a minimum in the area. This reduces the risk of
  disease and illness caused from rodent pee and feces and less need to have rodent poison and
  traps everywhere.
• The caretakers keep the area where they feed the cats clean and tidy, this also reduces the pests/rodents in the area.
• The cats are taken care of by the caretaker this includes feeding,TNR, medical care and deparasitation. Keeping the cats in good health is vital as it prevents the spread of deadly and lifelong diseases and the spread of parasites.
• The caretakers know all their cats well and they know their behaviour. So they are able to see quickly if there are any changes in their health and can seek immediate medical attention.
• The caretakers are able to see which cats would be suitable to find a home for and which wouldn't allow humans anywhere close to them.
• It is illegal for anyone to remove or harm any street cats. To do so carries a fine of up to €200.000.
• Only the colony caretaker has the legal right to remove cats from their colony and only for the purpose of medical care or if they have found a suitable home.

It is now law to vaccinate all pets. These laws are in place solely for the health of the animals.
The law is designed to protect animals from these horrendous illnesses. The way vaccines work is the more animals that are vaccinated the more protected the population is. With an eventual goal of the diseases no longer being present at all just like polio or TB in humans where countries who vaccinate no longer worry about those diseases because mass vaccination eradicated them. Below is a list of diseases that can be and usually are vaccinated against with the trivalent vaccinations. These are the 3 most common vaccines and they are very effective. If your pet is unlucky enough to be one of the small percentage that still manages to contract the illness, the effects will be far less severe than if they hadn't had the vaccine. The first
vaccination is done over 2 doses with a booster shot every year. Below is also a guide of what
to look out for in your pets health.
There are many diseases that our pets can contract but many of them are easily prevented by simply vaccinating your pet. We will cover some of the most common and easily contracted diseases. Some of these diseases once contracted can kill your pet in days, others can never be cured only managed with medicine. But all are preventable or lessen the risk of them contracting the disease if you vaccinate them.

The Effects Of Fireworks On Pets

• Panic and Injuries: Fireworks cause extreme stress, leading pets to panic, resulting in injuries
  from escaping, running into traffic, or attempting to break through windows/fences. 31% of dogs show shivering/trembling, and roughly 13% attempt to run away. Fireworks are responsible for approximately one-fifth of all reported companion animal disappearances.
• Heart Failure and Shock: Many cats and dogs suffer from severe, fatal stress, including pets suffering from panic-induced heart attacks, self-injury (breaking teeth, clawing walls), and being hit by cars during escapes.
• Behavioral Effects: While dogs often show more immediate signs of distress, studies indicate that firework aversion causes significant long term stress and behavioral issues (like increased fear and loss of appetite) in cats, with up to 16.5% of cat owners noting lasting effects. While dogs are often considered more affected, cats are highly susceptible to hiding and panic-induced accidents. According to the RSPCA, thousands of animals suffer from injuries or death annually due to firework-related panic.
• Missing Pets: The Kennel Club reported a doubling of missing dog reports around firework-heavy periods.

The Effects Of Fireworks On Wildlife And Farms

• Wildlife: Studies by the University of Alicante and Valencia found that firework noise in Spain causes juvenile sparrow populations to drop because adults abandon nests. Birds are often forced out of their nests at night, causing disorientation, mass deaths, and abandonment of young. Birds who are disoriented often collide with structures in panic, with documented cases of mass deaths (e.g., thousands of blackbirds in Arkansas, 2010).
• Farm/Stable Animals: AnimaNaturalis reports that 79% of horses show anxiety due to fireworks, and 26% suffer direct injuries. 1,468 incidents involving horses and fireworks were recorded between November 2010 and March 2024, averaging over 100 per year. From that, 49 horse fatalities and 317 injuries were recorded, including lacerations, broken limbs, and injuries from breaking through fences. Nearly 80% of horses were reported to be anxious or very anxious during fireworks. Livestock often experience acute stress, with reports of laying hens showing lower egg production and egg malformations after fireworks.
• Wildlife Casualties:
  Deer/Wildlife: Documented cases include wild animals like deer sustaining serious injuries from
  running into fences or roads.
  But due to the lack of a standardized reporting system, many cases of animal suffering go
  unreported, making it difficult to establish an exact, yearly numerical figure.

Animal Friendly Firework Options

Animal-friendly firework options focus on reducing noise and light pollution to minimize stress on pets and wildlife.
Top choices include low-noise/silent fireworks, drone light shows, laser displays. These alternatives provide festive visuals without the sudden, intense booms that cause fear and disorientation in animals.
Drone Light Shows: These use synchronized drones to create vibrant aerial visuals, offering a high-tech, completely silent alternative.
Laser Displays & Projectors: Laser shows set to music and home projectors can create exciting light effects without any noise or smoke.

We all know how much our beloved cats are curious and love to explore (as pictured with Sheba exploring a new toy). One of the ways they do this is by eating things around the house. They usually don't know by themselves what is and isn't toxic/poisonous to them.

One clear example of this is bleach. Bleach is a dangerous, toxic substance that (usually) contains ammonia, which is something that cat pee also has high levels of. Cats can get very close to bleach while smelling it in the same way they would if another cat had urinated. This is why it is so important to keep cleaning chemicals locked away from the reach of cats, other animals, and children.

But there are some things that are toxic to cats that are far less obvious, from human foods to indoor plants, here is a list of items, their effects, and what signs to look out for if a cat has ingested any.

We all love to treat our pets to a little bit of our own food every now and then. But what is actually safe to give them? Here, we will give a list of foods that are toxic to cats. Some of these can be dangerous within minutes, while some can have lasting effects, delayed effects, or need high quantities or repeated exposure to have effects (which does NOT make them safe "on occasion").