Tardienta approves the feline colony management program

The Tardienta City Council (Huesca) has made the municipality’s Feline Colony Management Program definitive, as no claims were submitted during the public exhibition period. The decision, adopted by Mayoral Resolution No. 173, of 06/16/2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Huesca number 164, Friday, August 28, 2026, with reference BOPH-2026-164020.

The agreement, signed by Mayor Miriam Ponsa Brusau on August 26, 2026, responds to article 39.1 of Law 7/2023, of March 28, on the Protection of Rights and Welfare of Animals, which assigns the management of community cats to local administrations through specific programs. The full text is made public for general knowledge, under file 1864246F.

A method based on TNR

The program regulates the management of feline colonies within the municipal district, located in the Los Monegros Region, using the TNR (Trap – Neuter – Return) method, defined in the law itself as the procedure that includes the trapping, sterilization, and return of community cats to their colony of origin through non-harmful means and with the intervention of a registered veterinary professional.

The TNR method allows for:

• Improving the welfare of the cats by reducing stress within the group.
• Controlling aggression between cats.
• Lowering the prevalence of infectious diseases.
• Preventing the exponential growth of the population due to the presence of sexually active cats.

Sterilization, identification, and feeding

In accordance with article 38.2 of Law 7/2023, the surgical sterilization of all cats in the colony will be carried out, both females and males, including the early sterilization of prepubertal animals from four months of age. Ear-tipping will be performed before the return, and at the time of sterilization, the animals will be treated with a broad-spectrum antiparasitic.

The cats will be identified by a microchip registered under the ownership of the City Council, and their data will be included in a registry with a health assessment, colony of origin, dates of capture, sterilization, marking, and release, a photograph, and the location of the marking. Regarding feeding, watertight feeders and waterers will be placed in discreet locations, avoiding educational centers, health centers, playgrounds, restaurants, and high-traffic roads, with the supply of dry food and daily cleaning of residues.

Caregivers, obligations, and prohibitions

Caregivers, defined as those who attend to the cats of a colony without being their owners, must submit an application to the municipal registry and will receive an identification card. Their duties include collaborating in the capture and release of the animals, the controlled supply of food and water, the cleaning of the areas, and informing the city council of any incidents.

The program also incorporates the prohibitions of Article 42 of Law 7/2023, including the culling of cats except for health reasons, the confinement of non-socialized animals, abandonment, release into colonies other than the original one, hunting exploitation, and the removal of cats except for specific exceptions. Additionally, a protocol for managing neighborhood conflicts is established, involving an inspection visit and resolution by the Mayor’s Office.

Validity and Scope

The program will remain in effect for a period of four years, renewing automatically if no other program is approved to replace it, and will enter into force once definitively approved and its full text is published in the provincial bulletin. With this measure, Tardienta provides itself with a regulatory framework that organizes the coexistence between neighbors, caregivers, and community cats, guaranteeing animal welfare and population control in the municipality.

Source: Official Bulletin of the Province of Huesca, no. 164, August 28, 2026, Local Administration section – Tardienta City Council, page 46 (official reference: BOPH-2026-164020).