Palma cat colony protest calls for law enforcement

A Palma cat colony protest will set off from Plaça d’Espanya at 12.00 on Sunday, 6 September, and finish at Plaça de Cort with a manifesto reading. The march is part of the nationwide Los Gatos Tienen Ley campaign, which says animal welfare law should be enforced wherever people live.

Gatherings are also planned in Eivissa, at Plaça de Sa Graduada, and in Formentera, at Plaça de Sant Francesc Xavier.

Volunteers say they carry the burden

Campaign organisers say there remains a wide gap in many municipalities between what the rules require and the day-to-day reality for cat colonies. National spokesperson Mónica García said volunteers are feeding, neutering and rescuing community cats.

They want public authorities to take responsibility for what they call real, ethical and effective management of the colonies. The group says the work must not be shifted on to volunteers and needs stable public policies, planning, funding and monitoring.

The law already sets out council duties

Law 7/2023 already lays down a framework for managing community cats, according to the organisers. It includes municipal responsibilities for identification, registration, neutering, veterinary care, food, shelter and welfare.

For neutering, it sets out the CER method: capture, sterilisation and return. The protesters are not seeking a new law, but consistent and effective application of the rules already in place.

Topics: Sea rescue · Protests · Social affairs · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com