Bangkok, 13 January 2025 – Access to affordable veterinary services for stray cats is scarce in Thailand, increasing the risks of overpopulation and zoonotic diseases, like rabies. From December 13-14, 2024, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS and its partners Bangkok Cat Society and Lanta Animal Welfare offered free treatments at the Wat Klong Toei Nok temple in Bangkok and sterilised and vaccinated nearly 200 cats in just two days. To humanely manage local stray populations, FOUR PAWS advocates for the use of the sustainable TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) method.

Strays and free-roaming community cats in the low-income communities surrounding the Wat Klong Toei Nok temple are loved, fed and cared for by local residents, despite their limited resources. However, due to the scarcity of free sterilisations and vaccinations – which would help limit the growth of stray populations and improve their overall health – overpopulation remains a persistent issue in the area.

To support the community and raise awareness of the benefits of TNVR as a long-term solution to humanely control stray populations, FOUR PAWS and its partners started this initiative. It was the second time FOUR PAWS organised a free veterinary campaign for strays at a Buddhist temple in Bangkok. In 2023, over 100 cats were treated at the Wat That Thong Temple.

Working together with local communities to help stray cats

With this campaign, FOUR PAWS and its partners Bangkok Cat Society and Lanta Animal Welfare engaged with residents to highlight the benefits of TNVR to improve public and animal health and wellbeing. Experienced vets examined the cats and provided medical services.

“TNVR plays a crucial role in stabilising existing stray populations and improving their health. As such, it limits the spread of zoonotic diseases like rabies, which can transmit to humans. Thanks to the engagement of the community, the sterilisation campaign was a success. Resident monks played a crucial role in spreading the word about it in the community and identified cats that were in need of medical attention,” says Matt Backhouse, Head of Stray Animal Care in Southeast Asia at FOUR PAWS.

To further foster community engagement, FOUR PAWS’ local partners will continue supporting the communities around the Wat Klong Toei Nok temple and will be providing ongoing TNVR and treatment for stray and semi-owned cats.

FOUR PAWS advocates for humane stray population management

“For local efforts on sustainable stray animal population control to flourish, it is essential to foster an environment that considers both animal welfare and community needs. Sustainable stray population management can only succeed if local communities are actively involved in the process,” adds Backhouse.

Between January and December 2024, FOUR PAWS sterilised and vaccinated over 5,000 animals across Thailand. To further promote the importance of TNVR, FOUR PAWS participates in events, workshops and conferences in Thailand and across Southeast Asia and collaborates with local partners, governments and other stakeholders to develop long-term humane and sustainable solutions. The free temple sterilisation events emphasize the importance of grassroots collaboration in tackling stray animal challenges through regional dialogue.

Thailand: Struggling with growing stray populations

Sustainable and humane population management processes such as local and free sterilisation campaigns and a country-wide promotion of the TNVR approach are needed to stop the rapidly growing stray populations across Thailand and the outbreak of zoonotic diseases, which puts both the health of animals and the public at risk.