Nicosia, Cyprus. The Animal Party has called on the government to immediately clarify delays in implementing a nationwide cat sterilisation programme announced in October 2025. The party said no practical steps or official progress updates have been made public.
Funding and programme timeline
On October 4, 2025, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou announced that funding for cat sterilisations would rise from €100,000 to €300,000, alongside the launch of a government sterilisation scheme covering January 1, 2026 to 2029.
The minister also said the government would allocate €100,000 for the spaying and neutering of dogs, calling it the first time a separate amount had been given exclusively for that purpose.
Concerns over lack of updates
The Animal Party said no practical steps towards implementation have been made public and no official update has been issued on the programme’s progress.
It said the same applied to other previously announced measures, including the creation of a regional dog shelter in Paliometocho with a budget of €150,000.
Calls from organisations and questions raised
The party said it had received a large number of calls from animal welfare organisations and volunteers seeking clear information about the sterilisation scheme, as uncontrolled reproduction of stray cats continues and overpopulation worsens.
It asked which authority is responsible for the delay, what stage the process has reached, and at what administrative level implementation has stalled.
Request for official response
The Animal Party urged the competent ministry and all involved bodies to issue an immediate and official response with clear answers and a timetable for action.
Earlier action plan estimate
In September 2025, animal welfare commissioner Antonia Theodosiou said her office had drawn up an action plan in collaboration with animal welfare organisations, whose calculations indicated seven years were needed for comprehensive sterilisation efforts to control the island’s cat population.
What timeline will the government provide for implementing the nationwide sterilisation programme and related measures?
