In the suburb of Floirac, near Bordeaux, a young mother cat and her kittens were recently captured in a trap as part of a program aimed at managing the stray cat population. The initiative is run by the association Une pensée féline, supported by the city of Floirac. Instead of euthanasia, the program focuses on sterilizing the cats and returning them to their original location, unless they are sociable and available for adoption. The goal is to reduce the number of stray cats, prevent abandonment, and promote responsible pet ownership. Volunteers also monitor feeding sites to discourage people from abandoning their pets during holidays or permanently. A recent study by the SPA (Société Protectrice des Animaux) and the Affinity Foundation, based on feedback from 880 organizations, found that 66% of stray cats are taken in by shelters, families, or associations. However, these groups had to turn away over 45,000 cats last year due to overcrowding. Une pensée féline aims to provide a temporary home for cats, giving them the chance to experience life in a home environment. Those not suitable for adoption are sterilized, identified, and returned to their original location as "free cats." Since 2019, the city of Floirac has been committed to sterilizing stray cats and has partnered with the 30 Millions d'Amis Foundation, which helps fund the sterilization and identification process. Over twelve years, the foundation has sterilized more than 220,000 cats and signed contracts with 3,675 municipalities. Other organizations, such as the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, also provide financial support to local governments for similar initiatives. Some cities directly fund local associations that manage stray cat populations. Clément Jacob, head of cabinet at Floirac city hall, emphasized that the benefits of these programs extend beyond animal welfare, contributing to the community’s overall well-being. However, many local authorities remain hesitant. According to the SPA/Affinity study, 79% of organizations involved are not or only slightly financially supported by local governments, which has led to 78% of them abandoning sterilization campaigns. Jacques Gauchy, president of the SPA, pointed out that the issue is not a lack of money, but a lack of willingness from local authorities to support these efforts. The consequences of inaction are significant: a single pair of cats can theoretically produce up to 20,000 offspring in four years. Some cat owners fail to identify their pets, as required by law, or sterilize them, despite the fact that male cats can travel long distances to find mates and produce up to three litters annually. Thérèse Duhauga of Une pensée féline argues that the lack of sterilization is the main cause of the growing cat population. Without a collective effort to raise awareness and support, she warns, associations will continue to face the same challenges without resolution.