Vet World   Vol.18   July-2025  Article - 32 

Veterinary-led interventions and owner perceptions of male cat sterilization: Insights from a community-based initiative in Malang, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Male cat sterilization is often neglected in feline population control strategies due to cultural beliefs, logistical barriers, and misconceptions, especially in developing urban areas. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a veterinary-led, community-based intervention in Malang, Indonesia, to promote male cat sterilization, improve owner compliance, and explore sociocultural influences on participation.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among owners of non-pedigree male cats (6 months to 5 years old) in the Greater Malang area. Data were collected through a validated online questionnaire asse-ssing demographic characteristics, sterilization readiness, compliance behavior, and sociocultural perceptions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, while open-ended responses underwent thematic analysis.

Results: Out of 182 potential respondents, 99 met the inclusion criteria and proceeded with the intervention. A 99% compliance rate was achieved (98/99), supported by strong community engagement and clear procedural guidelines. Education level, previous pet ownership, and affiliation with animal welfare organizations had a significant influence on compliance (p < 0.05). Barriers for non-compliant individuals included scheduling conflicts, financial constraints, and surgical apprehension. Thematic analysis revealed that cultural beliefs about masculinity and religious ambiguity were common deterrents, but community outreach and peer influence effectively shifted perceptions.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that structured, culturally attuned, veterinary-led community interventions can achieve high compliance in male cat sterilization. Strategic partnerships with local organizations, transparent communication, and logistical support are key to success. Findings support the integration of such programs into broader One Health initia-tives, emphasizing responsible pet ownership, zoonotic disease mitigation, and sustainable management of urban animal populations.

Keywords: community-based intervention, compliance behavior, cultural beliefs, male cat sterilization, One Health, urban animal control, veterinary outreach.

---

How to cite this article: Haryo A and Untari H (2025) Veterinary-led interventions and owner perceptions of male cat sterilization: Insights from a community-based initiative in Malang, Indonesia, Veterinary World, 18(7): 2113–2126.

Received: 05-04-2025   Accepted: 25-06-2025   Published online: 30-07-2025

Corresponding author: Albiruni Haryo    E-mail: albiruni.haryo@gmail.com

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.2113-2126

Copyright: Haryo and Untari, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.