The Municipality of Sassari and Asl have signed an agreement to census, sterilize and monitor free-roaming cats in the municipal area. The project, announced on 12 October, aims to curb the growth of the cat population and protect animal and public health. Activities will continue until mid-2027, with the possibility of an extension.
The agreement, entitled “Birth Control and Management in Free-Roaming Cat Populations in the Municipality of Sassari”, provides for the immediate start of censuses, site inspections and sterilizations. Information and awareness-raising initiatives for residents are also expected to begin by the end of 2026. Activities will be organized according to a schedule and the priorities identified by the veterinary services.
The Municipality will work with Asl to identify and census colonies, check whether public areas are suitable and identify any hygiene or environmental issues. The administration will also identify veterinary practices and private clinics suitable for sterilizations, maintain relations with associations and provide logistical support. The agreement complements the existing arrangement for veterinary care for injured or sick cats.
Through its Stray Animal and Companion Animal Registry service for Northern Sardinia, Asl will coordinate veterinary matters and establish protocols and priorities. In collaboration with the facilities identified by the Municipality, it will schedule sterilizations and handle microchipping and registration of the animals. Serological and diagnostic tests, vaccinations and antiparasitic treatments are also planned, depending on the animals’ health conditions.
A technical committee will be set up immediately to establish priorities, coordinate activities and monitor their progress. The criteria include the cats’ health, the number of animals and the presence of litters; emergencies reported by residents or the relevant offices may also be considered. Associations and volunteers can help with the census, trapping, transport, care and monitoring, following the guidance agreed with the Municipality and Asl.
Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Ecological Transition Pierluigi Salis described the agreement as a further step in the collaborative process launched by the administration with the parties involved. Asl Director General Antonio Lorenzo Spano linked the initiative to the One Health approach and the prevention of cat-borne zoonoses through health monitoring of cat populations.