BBMP urged to start cat neuter by KAWB in line with ABC Rules 2023 ..

After this issue and petition https://www.change.org/catneutering in 2023 was relentlessly raised  by the CJ Memorial Trust and after  many calls, meetings and letters to the Karnataka Animal Welfare Board, (who is required as per the rules 2023 to formally instruct the municipal authorities to initiate and perform cat neuter and ARV) the Member Secretary of Karnataka Animal Welfare Board (KAWB),  Dr Srinivasan with the guidance and direction of the Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AHVS) , Ms Rohini  Sindhuri,  kindly issued the above simple letter to the municipal authority. This simple but important move, can change the entire face of cat welfare by enabling citizens and animal lovers to also get their community cats, neutered and vaccinated for free and also make community safer by reducing of cat population and increasing feline rabies vaccination. A different approach is needed as cats are smaller and more delicate than dogs and require a different type of surgery environment as well as catching and handling..

We hope that this will be taken up in a proper, sustained yet  compassionate and safe manner by the municipalities with the right infrastructure that is needed to protect cats. After all, cats are also carriers of rabies like dogs and the city also needs to have a compassionate and structured way of managing cat population and disease. 

It is now the job of the BBMP/GBA and  the and the new Corporation authorities under GBA to take this up on a structured and informed basis with cat and animal welfare experts . A letter to the Chief Commissioner has already been shared and is available below and on our blog

Thank you .

CJ Memorial Trust 

Letter from Dr Srinivasan Member Secretary to BBMP GBA Re cat neuter to be done by BBMP as per BC Rules 2023

Letter written to Commisiomwr BBMP /GBA

We also wrote the letter below

10 Sept 2025

The Chief Commissioner,Special Commissioner Health

Greater Bangalore Authority (GBA) (formerly BBMP),

BBMP Head Office,

N.R. Square,

Bangalore – 560 002.

Via Email:

Dear Commissioners,

Subject: Urgent Request for Implementation of Cat Neutering and Vaccination Program under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, Point No. 9

Reference:

1. Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, Rule 9(1) & 9(2)

2. Karnataka Animal Welfare Board (KAWB) Letter ]

3. Change.org Petition: "Where is AWBI mandated municipal cat neuter?"

4. WhatsApp communication with Special Commissioner Shri. Vikas Suralkar, dated 2nd October 2024.

We, at the CJ Memorial Trust, write to you today to urgently request the immediate planning and implementation of a municipal program for the sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination of stray and community cats within the Greater Bangalore Authority, as is your mandated responsibility under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.

As explicitly stated in Point 9 of the ABC Rules, 2023, the municipal authority is responsible for the animal birth control programme for stray dogs, and the same shall be applicable to stray cats (Rule 9(1)), and must provide the requisite infrastructure and logistics for this purpose (Rule 9(2)).

This legal obligation is further underscored by the immense public health and animal welfare crisis posed by the unchecked proliferation of cats. While the ABC program has historically focused on dogs, the exclusion of cats creates a significant gap in our rabies prevention strategy. The scientific fact remains that cats are just as susceptible to get or spread rabies as dogs and can transmit the fatal virus to humans. Addressing only half the problem jeopardises public health.

Furthermore, the animal welfare implications are severe and heart-breaking. Cats reproduce at an alarming rate, with pregnancy cycles occurring as frequently as every three months. This constant overpopulation leads to immense suffering: kittens are drowned, poisoned, brutalised, abandoned, and fall prey to larger animals. This preventable cruelty can be effectively halted through an aggressive and consistent spay/neuter and vaccination program.

We note that on 2nd October 2024, Special Commissioner Shri. Vikas Suralkar acknowledged our petition on this matter (enclosed) via WhatsApp, stating, “we need to plan for this.” We appreciate this initial recognition.

To further facilitate this process and fulfil all procedural requirements, we have proactively engaged with the Karnataka Animal Welfare Board (KAWB). We are pleased to inform you that following our discussions with the Chairman and Member Secretary of the KAWB Executive Committee, the Board has issued a formal letter of requisition to the BBMP (now called GBA) , explicitly requesting the inclusion of cats in the municipal ABC program. A copy of this KAWB letter is enclosed for your ready reference. This, we believe, completes all necessary formalities and clears the path for immediate action.

Therefore, we now firmly request the GBA to act upon its statutory duty and the KAWB's directive without delay. We propose the following concrete steps for your consideration:

1. Establish Dedicated Infrastructure: Set up 2 to 4 specialised ABC centres across Bengaluru, equipped and staffed to handle cats exclusively. Cats are smaller, more fragile, and require different surgical protocols, post-operative care, and handling than dogs.

2. Leverage Expert Partnerships: Utilize the services and expertise of established organisations like CUPA, which already operates a dedicated and successful spay/neuter centre for cats in Jayanagar. A partnership model can ensure efficiency and high standards of care from day one.

3. Enable Community Participation: Formulate a framework for last-mile access, enabling registered Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), cat caretakers, and animal welfare squads to humanely trap, transport, and release community cats in coordination with the GBA's designated teams.

The legal mandate is clear, the formal request from the state board has been received, the public health imperative is undeniable, and the solution is evident. There is no justification for further delay.

We urge the GBA to swiftly allocate budget, designate officers, and issue work orders to initiate a robust Cat ABC program. We are ready to offer our full cooperation and support to make this initiative a success for a safer, more humane Bengaluru.

We request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience to discuss an actionable plan and timeline for implementation.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

For CJ Memorial Trust

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal

Encl:

1. Copy of online petition  Change.org/catneutering

2. Copy of Karnataka Animal Welfare Board (KAWB) Requisition Letter to GBA

3. Screenshot of WhatsApp communication with Special Commissioner (if appropriate for formal letter)