Since 2022, the municipal intervention has already covered 3,039 animals and 422 cat colonies, using the CED – Capture, Sterilize, and Return Program. This method aims to control the reproduction of street cats, returning them to their place of origin after sterilization, whenever conditions permit, to progressively reduce reproduction and improve their well-being.
The new protocol, signed on Wednesday, the 30th, with the associations Animais de Rua, Causas de Caudas, and MIACIS – Proteção e Integração Animal, provides for a total support of 75 thousand euros, equally distributed among the three entities (25 thousand euros each).
Since the program's inception in 2022, the municipal investment amounts to 240 thousand euros. In the 2025/2026 period, 870 cats were sterilized (449 females and 421 males), 152 colonies were intervened (131 of which are controlled), and 310 animals were registered as rescued or adopted.
The intervention goes beyond reproductive control, including colony monitoring, identification, deworming, electronic identification, and veterinary care for injured or sick animals. The new protocol introduces more structured mechanisms, such as a database for colony and animal registration and traceability, technical priority criteria, execution reports, and strengthened coordination between the Municipality and the associations.
The possibility of allocating up to 20% of financial support to clinical treatments and pathologies is also foreseen, as well as greater control over requests forwarded by the Municipality and their respective interventions. The territorial organization of interventions has been defined: Animais de Rua will be responsible for Baguim do Monte, Jovim, Lomba, and Rio Tinto; Causas de Caudas for Fânzeres, São Pedro da Cova, and Valbom; and MIACIS for Foz do Sousa and Covelo, Medas and Melres, and São Cosme.
The CED Program is presented as a feline population control tool that combines animal welfare and health, public sanitation, and community involvement, contributing to a more organized intervention and continuous monitoring of colonies.
