I love my family
Family means care, love and devotion, whether it’s a relative, a dear friend or a furry companion. Our cats are part of our family and through this project we want to help sterilize them and ensure a healthy life for them.
Sterilizing animals is an act of responsibility and caring. However, many people hesitate to sterilize their cats for various reasons: myths, lack of information or personal beliefs. In other words, through our project, you can offer someone you love who owns a cat a low-cost or even free sterilization.
The “I love my family” project aims to turn the perception of sterilization into a gesture of care for our family because many stray animals come from our own families, being the offspring of owned cats that have not been sterilized. The problem of stray animals is therefore directly linked to the responsibility of each and every one of us to prevent uncontrolled breeding.
We know that discussions about sterilization can be difficult or even unmentionable in everyday discussions. If you have a family member, friend or acquaintance who has an unsterilized cat, but don’t know how to bring up the subject, we’re here to help. You can contact us for support and guidance. We offer support and advice to help you make the best decision for your cat, depending on the situation.
How can you get involved?
Find out more
In order to be able to convince someone of the importance of sterilization, you must first have the right information. Find out from reliable sources about the benefits of sterilization, its impact on animal health and its role in reducing the number of stray animals. You can find useful information on the websites of animal welfare NGOs, veterinary practices and international organizations.
Convince a loved one
Have someone in your family or friends who has a cat but refuses to neuter it? Here are some ways to convince them:
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Answer their questions and fears – Many people refuse sterilization because of myths (e.g. “the cat must have a litter of kittens before sterilization” – false!). Give her science-based information.
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Give concrete examples – Tell about real-life cases of animals that have suffered due to non-sterilization (cancer, uterine infections, abandoned puppies, etc).
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Offer practical support – Maybe the person doesn’t know where to go or doesn’t have time to deal with scheduling and transportation. Offer to help with these aspects.
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Speak about the impact on the community – Explain that many animals on the street come from owned animals that have bred out of control.
Help with organizing
If you have time and resources, you can get actively involved in the sterilization campaign:
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Transport – Help transport cats to and from the clinic.
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Post-Operative Recovery – Provides temporary housing for your cat until she fully recovers.
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Promote – Distribute information about the sterilization campaign online and offline (local groups, neighborhood posters, talking to neighbors).
Donate or volunteer
NGOs organizing free or low-cost sterilizations are always in need of support:
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Donations – Even a small amount can cover part of the cost of a sterilization.
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Materials – You can donate carriers, blankets, food for cats in recovery.
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Time – Help organize and run sterilization campaigns, whether it’s logistics, promotion or transportation.
Anyone who wants to sterilize a cat can participate. In particular, we are aimed at people who cannot afford the cost of a standard-price sterilization or who wish to sterilize several community cats.
Yes, minors can neuter a cat through us. Contact us and we will guide you.
Neuterings are performed by licensed veterinarians in partner clinics. Appointments are subject to partner availability.
Neutering is surgery to prevent the animal from reproducing. In females it involves removing the ovaries and sometimes the uterus, and in males it involves removing the testicles.
Neutering helps prevent overpopulation, reduces the risk of serious diseases (such as cancer) and helps reduce the number of abandoned animals.
We offer discounted or free neuterings, depending on available funds and partner clinics. More details can be found here.
No, but there must be transportation available to the partner clinic and back at discharge.
No. The operation is done under anesthesia and recovery is quick. The long-term benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort.
If the cat is feral or hard to catch, we can offer trapping advice or, in some cases, logistical support to catch it.
Yes, it is important that outdoor cats are sterilized to prevent uncontrolled breeding. Under current legislation, cats in the public domain or those entering your property can be trapped for sterilization in order to responsibly manage the cat population. If you need advice on how to do this legally and ethically, do not hesitate to contact us!
Try to explain the benefits, provide informative resources and details about the programs offered by different animal welfare NGOs around the country. For more details about the program offered by Green Cats, read the neutering program.
If needed, you can take the initiative and help with scheduling and transportation. Make sure the cat has a space in which to recover post-op (minimum 1-2 days for males and 2-5 for females, depending on the season), especially if it is with outside access.
Cats usually fully recover in 7-10 days. It is important that they are kept in a quiet, clean environment and that stitches are checked regularly.
Yes, neutering can be performed on pregnant cats, but ideally it should be done as early in pregnancy as possible to reduce the risks. A veterinarian is best placed to decide this.
The risk of uncontrolled breeding increases, contributing to the large number of stray animals. Unneutered animals are also more prone to certain diseases such as uterine infections or mammary/testicular cancer.
At the same time, non-sterilization leads to intense hormonal stress, as females frequently go into heat, becoming agitated and anxious, and males show aggression and territorial behaviour. Frustration occurs when cats are unable to mate, causing them to vocalize excessively and mark territory.
Neutering reduces these problems, giving cats a more balanced and discomfort-free life.
Community cats are largely the offspring of owner cats that have not been sterilized and have either been lost or abandoned. They are also rapidly multiplying due to a lack of cat population control measures. A single pair of cats can produce hundreds of offspring within a few years, contributing to overpopulation and the suffering of stray animals. The only effective solution to reduce the number of community cats is sterilization.
After neutering, cats generally become calmer and more attached to their owners. Behaviors such as urine marking, aggression and the desire to escape in search of a mate disappear. Sterilization also reduces the risk of cat fights and significantly reduces stress caused by hormonal fluctuations. It is important that after the operation the cat is monitored and given a balanced diet to prevent weight gain.
Yes, neutering does not affect a cat’s hunting instinct. They will continue to hunt for pleasure or out of necessity, depending on the environment and access to food. Some cats may become more relaxed and less active immediately after surgery, but this does not mean they lose their predatory behavior.
However, although cats are natural predators and instinctively hunt mice, it is not recommended to let them consume them. Mice can carry parasites, bacteria or poisons from rodent traps. If your cat has access to the outdoors, it is important to have your cat de-wormed regularly to prevent illness caused by the prey consumed. A balanced diet, based on specially formulated cat food, is the safest option for your cat’s health because cats continue to hunt even when given quality food. Hunting is not just a way of foraging for food, it is also an instinctive behavior that provides mental and physical stimulation. With quality food, you will increase both their life expectancy and their quality of life.
While we do not encourage outdoor access for cats because of the low life expectancy that exposure to the risks brings, we are aware that not all cats will find a family in the true sense of the word, but will be used for rodent control around the household. Even in this situation, the benefits of sterilization remain valid.
Find here all the details about enrolling a cat in the program.
Together we can build the responsible community and family we all dream of!
