Cat owners put on notice to sterilise pets

WA cat owners will have until the end of 2013 to microchip, sterilise and register their pets with their local council under new laws introduced to State Parliament today.

Local Government Minister John Castrilli said the Cat Bill 2011 applied to owners of all cats that had reached six months of age.

He said it would provide better management of the unwanted impacts of cats on the community and the environment, as well as improving cat welfare. About 5000 cats are put down in WA each year.

“Allowing unwanted cats to face starvation and neglect is unacceptable to both the community and the State Government,” he said.

Mr Castrilli said the Act would give local governments the power to administer and enforce the legislation, and to introduce their own laws to complement it.

The laws would make it compulsory for cats to be microchipped and sterilised before being sold or transferred.

“Establishing a consistent and comprehensive regulatory approach across the State will help address these issues,” Mr Castrilli said.

“This is a major initiative for this State and is a considered and measured approach to addressing an important animal welfare issue.”

A discussion paper released last year estimated that WA had about 217,000 pet cats, but 10 per cent of owners did not sterilise their animals.

It said the average cost to owners would be $229 – made up of microchipping ($58), registration ($10 per year) and sterilisation ($161).

Mr Castrilli said a phased-in period would give local governments and the public time to prepare for the legislation’s introduction from November 1, 2012.

“Provisions requiring microchipping, sterilisation and registration will come into effect one year later,” he said.

WA Local Government Association president Troy Pickard said last year that while councils might be able to modify some existing resources and facilities used for dogs, it was likely they would seek Government help with establishment costs.

The Cat Owners’ Association of WA has said the proposal to introduce compulsory sterilisation, microchipping and registration was likely to increase the dumping of unwanted kittens and recommended co-ordinated trap, neuter and release programs in WA.

However the Cat Haven has backed the laws, saying they will stop thousands of cats and kittens being put down, help identify lost animals, and reduce problems caused by unsterilised cats.