West Jakarta Sterilizes 112 Cats to Curb Rising Urban Feline Concerns

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - West Jakarta authorities ramped up their animal welfare efforts on Monday, April 21, 2026, by performing sterilizations on 112 local male cats at the Cengkareng Fishery Product Promotion Center (TPHP). This proactive move was designed to address rising urban feline concerns within the community.

As quoted by Antara, this initiative marks a strategic shift toward mitigating neighborhood friction as the city grapples with a growing stray population and increasing public reports regarding feline-related disturbances.

Head of the West Jakarta Food Security, Marine, and Agriculture (KPKP) Agency, Bety Rohmawati, emphasized that the program is designed to control populations and curb the spread of infectious diseases. Beyond biological control, the initiative aims to foster harmony between residents and animals while significantly boosting the animals' quality of life.

"It is not just about the high cat population, but also the fact that public complaints regarding cats have been on the rise," confirmed Bety in Jakarta on April 21, 2026.

The program utilized digital outreach to connect with the community, with all 112 registered owners signing up through the agency’s official Instagram account.

The surgical procedures were conducted in partnership with veterinarians Ratih Handayani and Aditya Try Mahindra. To ensure clear identification for future monitoring, each cat received a permanent ear-tip mark following the procedure.

This event serves as a cornerstone for an ambitious annual goal, as the agency aims to sterilize 2,200 cats throughout 2026, a significant increase from the previous year's target of 2,000. To reach this benchmark, the Agency is deploying a multi-faceted strategy that combines community collaboration and professional veterinary expertise.

"To achieve that target, we will implement various methods such as collaborating with subdistrict offices and utilizing the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) method. Furthermore, we will manage self-funded programs in cooperation with the Indonesian Veterinary Association (PDHI)," concluded Bety. ***