Rescue and adoption have become the main way people in Spain get cats as pets, and the trend seems just as common among foreigners here, with many of our readers telling us how they ended up taking in friendly felines without a home.
According to the recent Sanicat Feline Barometer, 42 percent of cat owners say they rescued their pet from the street or found it abandoned, while another 39 percent opted to go to shelters, animal rescue organisations, or other rescue groups instead.
In some regions, the percent of people who adopted street cats is even higher. In Murcia for example it rises to 54 percent, in Navarre to 51.2 percent, and Cantabria to 49 percent.
In fact on a recent Facebook post, dozens of The Local Spain readers commented that they too had rescued their pet cats from the street.
One reader wrote that he came here with none, and has 8 now, including 4 ferals he feeds outside.
Another wrote: “We have a beautiful cat that was a feral, she wandered into our garden and has been here with us for 6 years now”.
Others found them in dumpsters or dustbins as kittens and brought them home as rescued them when they were abandoned.
Some readers have gone even further. “I'm feeding 35 and 6 kittens. And have neutered 82 so far on my street in 21 years... When I bought my house, it came with 2 ferals I immediately neutered.....and so it continues," another said.
According to the previously mentioned Sanicat study, 8 out of 10 cats residing in Spanish homes come came from a vulnerable situation and indicates the dire situation of many cats here.
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Animal abandonment is the biggest concern related to the feline population for 73 percent of the people consulted, followed by mistreatment (58 percent) and the control of overpopulation in urban colonies (51 percent).
"On a daily basis, we see multiple cases of abandonment; during the summer season, we observe cases of people leaving behind several animals simply because they are traveling during their holidays, without looking for alternative care," José, a content creator and feline activist told Spanish newspaper El Español.
Many foreigners in Spain are helping not only by taking cats into their homes, but also volunteering at feral cat colonies, going to feed them regularly and helping to get them neutered or spade.
There are cat colonies in most major cities in Spain. You can usually find out how to help by looking on social media or asking at your local town hall. They will be able to connect you with the people already looking after them and tell you how you can help too.
Remember, it's important not to just turn up and do this yourself as there could be certain regulations in place, so speak to the authorities first. If you're in a small town or village with no such programme in place, you may even want to look up starting a group of your own and organising feeding schedules.
READ ALSO: What to do if you find an abandoned dog or cat in Spain
Not all animals found on the street have been abandoned, however, some have gotten lost or escaped from their homes, and the lack of identification makes it difficult for them to return to their owners.
The First Official Study on Animal Protection Management in Spain, prepared by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, found that 95 percent of cats in Spain are not microchipped. Often when a cat runs away or becomes lost it joins a feral colony and can’t always be reunited with its owners.
While taking in a street cat is a big responsibility, it usually doesn’t require as much time or attention as a dog and so is slightly easier to do. You do have to make sure, however that you get them neutered or spade, that you take them to the vet to get them checked over and given any necessary vaccinations and that you get them microchipped.
The study also found that living with a cat also seems to generate greater awareness of animal welfare.
A total of 53 percent of owners say that living with a cat has made them more aware of the needs and emotions of other animals, while 42 percent claim to have developed a greater sense of responsibility towards all living beings.