Emerging laws must not protect stray cats and their impacts

Our moral circles—that is, the entities believed as worthy of concern and thus deserving considerations—have historically expanded beyond humans to include also nonhuman beings (Crimston et al., 2018). As a result, various emerging legal instruments around world have been granting rights animals. However, inclusion animals within circles is subjected important biases, with preference for charismatic, familiar, beautiful vertebrates (Klebl 2021). We argue that embracing such biases may jeopardize biodiversity conservation. In February 2022, Spanish government approved draft law elaborated by Ministry Social Rights 2030 Agenda restructure most human–animal interactions (https://www.mdsocialesa2030.gob.es/servicio-a-la-ciudadania/proyectos-normativos/documentos/AP_LEY_ANIMALES.pdf). it focuses on few domestic species, conflicts several European laws key management strategies The pays particular attention stray-cat colonies, high-density groups unowned cats sustained an artificial provision resources. It intends grant them protection support, both nutritional veterinary (to be provided public local administrations), recognize official status their voluntary caretakers. Moreover, prohibits elimination, replacing culling (which has successfully eradicated cat populations certain islands; Nogales 2004) fertility control (Trap-Neuter-Return/Release, TNR), which considered more ethical. TNR only enables population reduction when applied at high rates over long time-frames in spatial contiguity, very costs, compensatory effects should simultaneously managed (Gunther 2022). Such complex, frequently unaffordable would result perpetuating or even increasing already number stray cities rural areas, maintaining (in short-term) then boosting (over longer time frames) devastating impacts biodiversity. Although challenging, medium-term objective environmental disappearance feral including monitored through quantitative indicators related colonies cats. To achieve this target, raise societal awareness about detrimental exert health (Figure 1) effective communication (Dubois 2017). implicated than quarter contemporary bird, mammal, reptile extinctions worldwide, damaging invasive predators (Doherty 2016). Predation cause small mammal bird mortality, ahead roadkill, poisoning, human hunters (Trouwborst 2020). Contrary popular belief, well-fed colony still hunt wild prey (Plimpton 2021), because densities, stray-cats often are times greater native Cat particularly severe islands, will undoubtedly hinder conservation endemic Canary Balearic faunas 2). Besides predation, act vectors reservoirs numerous diseases can endanger wildlife (Meli 2010) harm (Milne Stray-cat play role disease dynamics due density individuals intense owned contradictory same charged meeting goals Agenda, halting loss, proposing enhancement sustainment powerful driver loss. sometimes trigger ethical challenges, prioritizing well-being fates favored animal species populations, ecosystem functioning, global promote homogeneous impoverished biotas dominated handful privileged (Griffin While attending welfare issues, unequivocally seek reduce negative free-roaming minimizing numbers shortest limiting outdoor access much possible. authors like thank all researchers who kindly contributed discussion problem Spain. declare no interest. All discussed wrote paper. Spanish) found at: https://www.mdsocialesa2030.gob.es/servicio-a-la-ciudadania/proyectos-normativos/documentos/AP_LEY_ANIMALES.pdf.