The Marbella City Council has definitively approved the Cat Colony Management Programme, more than a year after announcing it was ready. The document will allow for the accreditation of volunteers and the application of the CER method.
The Marbella City Council has given the green light to the Cat Colony Management Programme, a document that establishes the framework for the ethical control of the stray cat population in the municipality. The decree, signed by the Councillor for Health, Alejandro González, on June 10, puts an end to a wait of over a year since the councillor announced in April 2025 that everything was resolved.
The programme, which was made public at the end of June 2025, has been subject to objections from animal protection groups, some of which have been incorporated into the final text. Among the improvements introduced is the signage of the colonies with identifying signs of 'Controlled Colony', indicating that they are being cared for by accredited volunteers.
The CER method (capture, sterilisation, and return) will be the basis of the programme, applied colony by colony. The next colony will not be addressed until at least 80-90% of the previous one has been controlled. During sterilisation, the health status of the animal will be checked, vaccinations will be administered, deworming will be done, and a microchip will be placed in the name of the City Council.
A significant new feature is that it will expressly allow for the provision of wet food to those animals that need it, something that does not happen in all municipalities. However, the programme does not detail the municipal budget allocated for these actions. Caregivers estimate that the annual cost of food and veterinary care is around 500,000 euros, an amount that has so far been covered by volunteers and associations, despite the law stating that it is the responsibility of the City Council.
The document also includes a protocol for cases of construction work affecting a colony, as well as the 'relocation' procedure, which allows for the gradual relocation of a colony by changing feeding points. However, nothing is established in the event of assaults, coercion, or insults to volunteers, situations that have already occurred in the municipality.
The final approval comes after animal rights groups demanded for months the implementation of the programme. Now, the City Council must begin the accreditation process for collaborating individuals, who will receive official identification to prevent them from facing threats as has happened in the past.
It remains to be seen the specific budget allocation that the City Council will dedicate to sterilisation, identification, and veterinary treatments. Associations hope that the municipal commitment translates into sufficient financial resources to ensure the sustainability of the programme.
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