Flatbush Cats will run a city-funded low-cost spay and neuter pilot program after the City Council voted Thursday to allocate $500,000 toward the initiative.

The funding will support about 3,500 low-cost surgeries over the next year in an effort to lower the financial burden on pet owners and independent rescuers and, in turn, reduce the number of cats in shelters and on the streets.

“It is a critical first step,” said Will Zweigart, founder and executive director of Flatbush Cats and its veterinary clinic, Flatbush Vet. “This is the first time the City Council, in the city budget, has included funding for spay/neuter for its pets. We’ve had shelters in New York City for 140 plus years, this is the first year we’re getting proactive about prevention.”

There are at least 500,000 stray

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