Hundreds of stray cats neutered in Dubai

Municipality says it has a comprehensive trap-neuter-return programme in place.

Stray cat near the beach at Umm Suqueim area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
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DUBAI // A clampdown on stray cats has led to 314 of them being neutered after more than 3,000 complaints about cats were received by Dubai Municipality.

The veterinary services section of the municipality is out each Saturday catching strays to have them checked by vets before the cats are neutered.

Hashim Al Awadhi, head of the veterinary section, said strays could be a problem because they could transmit diseases to humans, with children and the elderly particularly at risk.

Cases of toxoplasmosis in infected cats could lead to malformation of human foetuses or abortion for pregnant women, and a scratch from an infected cat can cause painful swelling.

Mr Al Awadhi said his section was implementing a programme to trap, neuter and return the cats to control their population in Dubai.

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