What do you do when a growing number of cat-lovers want to give an equally growing number of stray cats (puspins) better lives?

Last Saturday, 18 July, a community of cat groups gathered for “CATCON 2026: The First Philippine Conference for Community Cat Advocates” at the Meralco Mini Theater.

Organized by the Biyaya Animal Care Foundation and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), the conference featured talks designed to equip cat advocates with legal knowledge, practical strategies and best practices from communities, campuses, condos workplaces and local government units.

Biyaya’s Rina Ortiz opened the cat-filled day with a history of the rise of the animal welfare movement, paying special tribute to Nita Hontiveros Lichauco of PAWS, Charles Whartenberg who founded AKF and Nancy Cu-Unjieng of CARA. Ortiz said the animal welfare movement does not belong to a single group or an individual but a legacy handed down to current advocates by those who paved the way. “It is also something that we will hand down to those who will come after us,” she added.

Lawyer Anna Cabrera of PAWS gave legal points that advocates can use when there are threats of impounding for the community cats.

Martha Subido emphasized the importance of professional language when speaking with condo administrators, developers and property managers.

Mich Caguioa of CATropa showcased how Meralco institutionalized Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) within their corporate culture, while Carmel Puertollano of DLSU PUSA talked about how La Salle transformed their campus into a place where students, administration and professors are all community cat carers.

For those who may have doubted that local government units could also contribute to this conversation, Las Piñas City Vet Dr. Michael Basangan presented an impressive model of how cat advocates and the City Veterinary Office worked together to help implement a more humane method of cat population management in their city.

CAT CON also had Interactive breakout sessions on TNVR, fundraising, conflict resolution, LGU engagement, rescue and building cat-friendly communities. Cat groups themselves had a chance to present onstage.

At the end of the day, cat groups agreed to do better. They agreed that despite the fact that there are different ways of doing things what must unite them is a shared purpose — to make sure on behalf of all the cats we could not save — to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Because for every cat we’ve ever lost, we will save a hundred more — and together we will spare thousands from suffering. We will do it together.