Evolution of Suspected Cat Abuse Between 2020 and 2024 in the Community of Madrid (Spain)
Investigation article published in Animals
October 3rd, 2025
Animal abuse is a serious and underreported problem, with cats, particularly those living in colonies, being frequent victims. In Spain, reliable data on feline abuse are limited. This study evaluated the cause, manner and mechanisms of death from 53 cats over five years at the Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Unit of the VISAVET Health Surveillance Center in Madrid (Spain). More than half of the cats died from non-natural causes, including blunt force trauma, poisoning, and projectile injuries, while the remaining cats died from natural
causes. Compared to a previous regional study, suspected abuse cases have increased, including new instances of antifreeze poisoning. These findings provide insight into trends in feline abuse and underscore the need for improved detection, prevention, and
professional awareness to protect vulnerable animal populations. Feline colonies continue to be a point of societal conflict, and forensic evidence suggests that they are a primary target for this type of abuse
Aradilla-Macias N., de Pablo-Moreno J., Porras N., Chinchilla-Rodríguez B. and Rodriguez-Bertos A..
 | Servicio de Patología y Veterinaria Forense (SAP). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
Related news in other media:
- La Complutense detecta una tendencia al alza en los casos de maltrato a gatos en Madrid - animalshealth.es
- Revelan un aumento de casos sospechosos de maltrato animal en colonias felinas en la Comunidad de Madrid - diarioveterinario.com
