The municipal council of Vila Real de Santo António has started a new animal welfare project to look after local stray cat colonies. Called Program KAHU, the initiative focuses on sterilisation, safe shelters, and supervised feeding to help improve the life quality of stray cats while also improving public health and promoting a “harmonious existence between people and animals.”
As the council points out, the word Kahu comes from Hawaiian, meaning guardian or caretaker, and aims to reflects the role that the municipality and its population will play in caring for animals that, “while ownerless, are part of town life and deserve protection and dignity.”
“In urban settings, stray cats often form colonies. When these groups are healthy and monitored, they have a key role in controlling pests such as rats and cockroaches,” the local authority says.
The program follows the official CED method (Catch, Neuter, Return). Cats are caught, sterilised, dewormed, microchipped, and marked with a small cut on the left ear — the international sign of sterilisation. Afterwards, they are returned to their colony, where they will have regular food, clean water, and a caretaker responsible for their wellbeing.
Each colony will be provided with proper shelters bought by the municipality and placed in safe, discreet locations away from public parks and environmentally sensitive areas. Feeding points will be supplied only with dry food and water (leaving leftover food at the feeding points will be forbidden) to prevent pests and keep public spaces clean. Signs will also explain the rules to encourage respect and cooperation, the council says.
The local community’s involvement will be an essential part of the scheme. According to the council, local volunteers have helped shape the project and now form a network of recognised caretakers, ensuring daily monitoring and food for the animals.
The first shelters have already been installed across the municipality.
