Adeje Town Hall has launched the initial phase of a local plan for the management of feral cat colonies, following its unanimous approval by all political groups at a Council meeting held on 30 December 2025. This plan is a tool that regulates and provides technical support for the ethical management of feral cat colonies in the municipality, with the aim of ensuring animal welfare and sustainably controlling the feline population.
In its initial phase, the Town Hall has allocated nearly €60,000 to implement the plan’s basic actions, which will allow the registration of colonies to begin, sterilisation campaigns to be carried out, material resources to be acquired, training to be provided, and awareness-raising activities to be undertaken, thus laying the operational foundations of a model that aims to be consolidated in the medium and long term.
The councillor for the Department of Animal Welfare, José Antonio López, stated that this plan “has been made possible thanks to the work of the Town Hall’s technical and political team, combined with the selfless contribution of individuals and associations that have cared for Adeje’s feral cat colonies for years. Their experience, knowledge of the territory and commitment have been key in drafting the plan. The Town Hall is deeply grateful for their involvement and reaffirms its commitment to continue working hand in hand with those who, day by day, help improve animal welfare and coexistence in our neighbourhoods.”
The plan
The document is based on a prior analysis of the municipality’s situation and the evolution of the urban feline population, identifying the need to move from isolated actions to a structured system based on planning, monitoring and shared responsibility. In this regard, the plan recognises feral cat colonies as part of urban wildlife and advocates for their ethical management through the TNR method – Trap, Neuter, Return – as a fundamental tool to stabilise populations and gradually reduce their growth.
A central element of the plan is the creation of a municipal register of controlled feral cat colonies. This register will allow each colony to be identified and located, the number of animals, their health status and sterilisation rate to be known, as well as potential risk situations or neighbourhood conflicts to be detected. Based on this census, the Town Hall will be able to plan interventions in an organised way and assess the evolution of each colony in the medium and long term.
The plan also defines the role of carers and collaborators, regulating their position and establishing a municipal accreditation system. These individuals, who carry out their work voluntarily and altruistically, are a key element of the model, always in coordination with Adeje Town Hall. Their responsibilities include controlled feeding, monitoring the animals’ condition, collaborating in TNR campaigns, and maintaining hygienic conditions in the environment, following common guidelines and shared technical criteria.
In terms of health care, the plan sets out clear protocols. It establishes mandatory identification by microchip under municipal ownership, sterilisation as a priority measure, vaccination and deworming whenever possible, and veterinary care for sick or injured animals. Euthanasia is only considered as a last resort and always for humane reasons, under veterinary prescription and in very specific cases, ensuring the animal’s welfare at all times.
The adoption of socialised cats also has a prominent place in the document. The plan sets out mechanisms to promote the adoption of animals that can integrate into a home, especially abandoned cats or litters born in colonies, combining animal protection with public awareness and the prevention of future abandonment.
Another pillar of the plan is training and information. Adeje Town Hall plans training actions aimed at both carers and the local police and other personnel involved, as well as awareness campaigns for the public to explain the model’s operation, encourage responsible behaviour, and reduce conflicts. The Town Hall assumes an active role as coordinator, mediator, and guarantor of the plan’s compliance, maintaining regular monitoring of the colonies and continuously evaluating the results achieved.
