Panic in seaside town as plague of disease-ridden cats 'completely out of control'

Cats hanging around in a Mediterranean town. (Image: Getty)

Residents of Rincón de la Victoria in Malaga, Spain, say that the local cat colony has spiralled "completely out of control," causing frequent disruptions to their everyday lives. Since 2021, an empty wasteland on Conchita Street has become home to a burgeoning group of stray cats.

While the colony began with only a handful of animals, numbers quickly multiplied as some locals began feeding them. One neighbourhood resident described the cats as a "hotbed of infection," telling the Spanish publication El Sur that they can no longer safely use their terrace. "They started feeding them with whole sacks of dried food and that's how they've been able to reproduce. It was no use taking away their food, there was always more", states one of the residents, according to The Olive Press.

Rincón de la Victoria has been struggling with a cat problem since 2021. (Image: Getty)

Vegetation in the area has also suffered, with trees and lawns affected by diseases carried by the animals. The resident added that cat droppings have made regular use of swimming pools impossible and that it is "not just cats; all kinds of animals come here, from seagulls to wild boar. It's a serious problem."

Although complaints from residents have alerted local authorities, action so far has achieved little.

Measures such as putting up signs to remind people of restrictions on feeding the cats have had limited impact. Police are currently attempting to identify those responsible for feeding the animals so that appropriate penalties can be enforced.

In 2024, Rincon de la Victoria signed a collaborative agreement with the College of Veterinarians to implement the Capture, Sterilisation, and Return (CSR) method, aimed at controlling the stray cat population.

In Spain, large groups of stray and wild cats can cause real problems. Their droppings and parasites can spread diseases, while they damage gardens and hunt birds and small wildlife.

Residents often struggle with noise, smells, and mess, and local authorities face a constant challenge trying to control both the health risks and the growing cat populations.