Llubí Rewrites Animal Welfare: Maximum of Three Pets in Apartments, Cats Must Be Neutered

New Rules in Llubí: Fewer Pets per Apartment, Clear Guidelines for Cats

In Llubí, the small town of just over 2,400 residents, the town council approved a noticeable change in mid-October. From now on: In rental apartments, a maximum of three pets is allowed; for single-family homes the upper limit is five. Anyone keeping more animals risks fines in the future.

It sounds simple on paper. In practice, the decision has many reasons: According to the town council, uncontrolled breeding, noise, and problems with waste disposal regularly cause trouble in densely built streets such as Calle Major or around the Plaça. Also, several neighbors have been overwhelmed by stray cats.

Neutering to Curb Free-Roaming Cats

A central element of the new regulation is the mandatory neutering for cats that may go outside. The aim is to prevent uncontrolled breeding and minimize long-term problems for the animals and the community. The rule applies to both permanent residents and visitors who stay longer.

The municipality plans to support the measure partly through education and discounted neutering actions. In a first phase, local veterinarians should cooperate with discounts; in addition, an information campaign is planned at the school and at the cultural center. Local residents who report problems should receive quicker feedback from the town hall in the future.

Enforcement and Penalties – How Strict Will It Be?

Those who violate the guidelines can expect sanctions: the regulation cites fines as a means to punish repeated offenses. The council spoke of tiered penalties—from warnings to more substantial fines. Specific amounts will be published in the official gazette in the coming weeks.

I asked two residents at the market: One neighbor on the Plaça said she understood the concern about stray kittens, but did not want overly strict rules for responsible pet owners. An older man at the cafe next to the town hall said dryly: Without a doubt, someone is finally doing something, or else it will get out of hand for us.

Whether the regulation solves the problem depends on how well the municipality organizes neutering services and how consistently enforcement is carried out. For many animal lovers, the question remains: How can animal welfare and coexistence best be reconciled? Llubí has now set a direction, and the discussion is just starting.