Laws protecting community cats exist — both national and regional — but their enforcement is often slow and inconsistent. The census of cat colonies, neutering, and recognition of colony caretakers vary from one municipality to another and from one local health authority (ASL) to another: the fate of a cat colony ends up depending on the goodwill of a single official.
Rete Felina was created to change this situation. It is a legal advocacy project promoted by Animal Law Italia (ALI) that establishes a stable structure connecting colony caretakers with institutions, more consistent administrative practices across different areas, and clear tools for citizens, municipalities and local health authorities (ASL).
From “I Felini di Puglia” to Rete Felina
The project builds on the decade-long experience of the pilot project I Felini di Puglia, conceived and launched in 2016 by Mariagrazia Distante. Over nearly ten years, the pilot has involved about 50 municipalities in Puglia, 7 of which formally joined through a council resolution. It has launched the census of cat colonies and neutering programmes with local health authorities (ASL), and created forms, traceability procedures, geo-mapping, formal recognition of colony caretakers, and the installation of innovative feeding stations (GattoFioriera and GattaPanca).
The experience has recently been extended to Calabria, in Lamezia Terme, where more than 500 cats have already been neutered across 100 registered colonies.
For too long, community cats have belonged to “no one”, left to the goodwill of a handful of people. With Rete Felina, we want to give these animals an identity.
— Mariagrazia Distante, project lead
Five goals
- Inform citizens about existing laws and how they are enforced.
- Build a network connecting colony caretakers, municipalities and local health authorities (ASL), clarifying each one’s role.
- Train the network through seminars, webinars and online materials.
- Legal support: helping citizens ensure the proper application of the law through a network of specialised lawyers.
- Advocacy at the regional level to standardise management procedures.
It’s not enough for a law to exist — it must be applied equally for everyone. Our job is to bridge the gap between those who care for the animals on the ground and the institutions.
— Alessandro Ricciuti, President of Animal Law Italia
How to get involved
The project is looking for local coordinators, municipalities and local health authorities (ASL) interested in joining the network, volunteer lawyers and legal experts to provide technical and legal support, and supporters who can make a donation or request an ALI membership card.