Alhaurín de la Torre surpasses 80% of sterilized cats in its feline colony programme
The municipal Trap-Neuter-Return programme closes August with 2,202 cats sterilized and 481 pending, according to data from the Ayuntamiento de Alhaurín de la Torre.
Redacción · Published on September 23, 2026
The Captura, Esterilización y Retorno (CER) programme of Alhaurín de la Torre has reached, according to the Ayuntamiento, a sterilization rate of active cats of 80.67% at the close of August, compared to 78.15% in May. This is the first time this indicator has surpassed 80%.
In total, the programme counts 2,202 sterilized cats, of which 1,081 are males and 1,121 females. The feline census has grown to 2,849 registered specimens, 141 more than in May, although the number of animals pending sterilization has dropped from 528 to 481. The Ayuntamiento explains that the increase in the census is due to the work of locating and registering community cats, and does not necessarily imply that there is a larger feline population. Currently 2,488 animals remain active in the colonies, with 361 accumulated withdrawals.
Identification through microchip has also advanced: from 1,518 animals identified in May, it has risen to 1,652 in August, 134 more in three months.
Infrastructure and volunteering
The municipality has 228 feeding and control points, seven more than in May, and a network of 198 volunteers who manage the colonies, of whom 154 are women and 44 men, seven more than three months ago.
According to the data provided, in the last two years and seven months 50,985 kilos of feed have been distributed, equivalent to 3,399 sacks, with an estimated annual consumption of 19,119 kilos.
As for adoptions, in the last five years 1,315 have been managed, 45 more than those counted in May.
The programme is driven by the Área de Sanidad of the Ayuntamiento, the association El Gato Garduño and the company IVC Paraíso Residencia Canina, within an agreement reached in 2023 for the comprehensive management of feline colonies in accordance with current regulations.
The mayor of Alhaurín de la Torre, Joaquín Villanova, has stated that surpassing 80% sterilization "is a very significant figure that demonstrates the enormous work carried out during these years." For his part, the councillor for Sanidad y Medio Ambiente, Abel Perea, has highlighted the work of the association El Gato Garduño and of the volunteers, and has pointed out that there are still 481 animals pending sterilization, so he insists on continuing the work on an ongoing basis given the dynamic nature of the colonies.
In total, the programme counts 2,202 sterilized cats, of which 1,081 are males and 1,121 females. The feline census has grown to 2,849 registered specimens, 141 more than in May, although the number of animals pending sterilization has dropped from 528 to 481. The Ayuntamiento explains that the increase in the census is due to the work of locating and registering community cats, and does not necessarily imply that there is a larger feline population. Currently 2,488 animals remain active in the colonies, with 361 accumulated withdrawals.
Identification through microchip has also advanced: from 1,518 animals identified in May, it has risen to 1,652 in August, 134 more in three months.
Infrastructure and volunteering
The municipality has 228 feeding and control points, seven more than in May, and a network of 198 volunteers who manage the colonies, of whom 154 are women and 44 men, seven more than three months ago.
According to the data provided, in the last two years and seven months 50,985 kilos of feed have been distributed, equivalent to 3,399 sacks, with an estimated annual consumption of 19,119 kilos.
As for adoptions, in the last five years 1,315 have been managed, 45 more than those counted in May.
The programme is driven by the Área de Sanidad of the Ayuntamiento, the association El Gato Garduño and the company IVC Paraíso Residencia Canina, within an agreement reached in 2023 for the comprehensive management of feline colonies in accordance with current regulations.
The mayor of Alhaurín de la Torre, Joaquín Villanova, has stated that surpassing 80% sterilization "is a very significant figure that demonstrates the enormous work carried out during these years." For his part, the councillor for Sanidad y Medio Ambiente, Abel Perea, has highlighted the work of the association El Gato Garduño and of the volunteers, and has pointed out that there are still 481 animals pending sterilization, so he insists on continuing the work on an ongoing basis given the dynamic nature of the colonies.
