A leading animal welfare charity has backed a scheme to improve the health of Thailand’s growing cat population. Battersea is funding a two-year grant to the Soi Dog Foundation for its catch, neuter, vaccinate and return (CNVR) programme, which was launched on May 8. The initiative aims to boost the welfare of more than 35,000 cats living in Phuket and Phang Nga provinces - a figure similar to the human populations of the town Skelmersdale in Lancashire or Exmouth in Devon. Battersea said the project will provide CNVR to thousands of cats via two mobile teams of vets. Goals include preventing the births of hundreds of thousands of unwanted cats and delivering affordable veterinary care. A Battersea spokesperson said that having already established the largest stray animal CNVR programme of its kind in the world, this feline-focused scheme marks Soi Dog Foundation’s ambition to continue scaling up their feline welfare programme to improve the lives of stray and owned cats through rescue and medical care. Dr Ala Izydorczyk, Soi Dog’s international director of animal welfare, said: “This partnership with Battersea marks an important milestone for feline welfare in Thailand. “Our dedicated cat-focused mobile CNVR teams in Phuket and Phang Nga will be the first of their kind, and we are so excited to launch this initiative. “While Soi Dog Foundation has established a strong reputation for our canine CNVR programme, this Battersea-funded initiative allows us to expand our impact significantly for Thailand’s cats, addressing their unique welfare challenges. “We are so thankful to Battersea for making this work possible.” Julia Camara, Battersea grants and programmes manager, said: “At Battersea, our mission to be here for every dog and cat not only applies to the animals that come through our gates every year, but also helping millions more through working with organisations across the world. “We are extremely proud to support Soi Dog Foundation’s work to improve the health and welfare of Thailand’s cat population; not only will this initiative help to reduce the free-roaming cat population, but it also supports communities by equipping them with the knowledge and resources to care for their cats and will continue to improve cat welfare through holistic care.”