GEORGE TOWN, July 19 -- What began as a grassroots effort to curb Penang's growing stray cat population has evolved into a volunteer-driven movement that has already prevented thousands of kittens from being born on the streets.

Rather than operating as a shelter or cat rescue group, the initiative focuses on tackling the root cause of the problem, uncontrolled breeding, through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programme.

It started out as Cats of Penang in April last year and was formally established as Catsoterra Berhad in November.

To date, it has facilitated the sterilisation of almost 800 cats across Penang and subsidised more than RM50,000 worth of TNR services (as of July 8).

The programme is estimated to have prevented 7,116 kittens...