Despite only 6,392 stray cats being sterilized between August 2019 and February 2023, the BMC has received several complaints about the expanding cat problem in the city. The civic organization intends to work with six other Groups to start sterilization efforts starting next month to manage the expanding feline population. Also, the BMC raised the price of sterilization for each cat from 1,600 to 2,200.
Since 1994, the
BMC has organized sterilizing initiatives for stray dogs. It launched a similar program for cats in 2019 in response to many complaints of cat bites. Yet only two Organizations are currently in charge of the task. The civic organization has therefore urged additional NGOs and organizations to step up and sterilize stray cats. Six Organizations finally stepped forward, and we will shortly involve them, according to a civic source.
A top official claim that sterilizing cats is a challenging undertaking because they are little, swift runners, and climbers who are challenging to catch. "Offices and housing societies have complained to us on numerous occasions. With more NGOs on board, we hope to be able to sterilize more animals, the officials added, noting that it will still be challenging to count all the cats. Sunish Subramanian, Secretary of the Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) Mumbai said that if the BMC wanted to carry out the campaign successfully, local animal feeders should be involved.
They can assist in trapping cats and are amicable toward them. 2019 saw the BMC award a three-year contract for cat sterilization for Rs.3 crores. Over the upcoming three years, a budget of Rs.6 crores has been set out for programs to sterilize cats and dogs. Depending on who is responsible for paying the cost of water and energy, the BMC will pay 1,600 for male cats and 2,200 for each female cat. The civic organization will start a dog census next month to estimate the number of dogs in the city.
