Cat registration to be mandatory

Good idea: Elizabeth Shanahan and one of her cats, Molly. Elizabeth agrees with cat registration.

Allan Reinikka

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CAT owners like Elizabeth Shanahan should be clawing at the gate to register their pets when Rockhampton Regional Council introduces a registration system on September 1.

Those who get in early will be able to meet their new obligations for free.

The council yesterday agreed to a six-month amnesty, so any owner registering a moggie between September 2010 and March 1 2011 won’t be charged for the privilege.

And Elizabeth, who believes compulsory cat registration is a leap in the right direction, will be among the first in the queue.

The Rockhampton woman has been around furry felines since she was a little girl, and as the owner of two cats, she thinks registration is the best way to keep the animals safe.

“Cats are harder to control than dogs because you can’t just put up a fence, and just like dogs, cats do get lost,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth, who owns a cat that was rescued and one that was dumped, has both registered through the National Pet Register and her cats are also micro-chipped.

“I think council should introduce compulsory micro-chipping for cats down the track,” Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth, who is president of the RSPCA Rockhampton branch and used to be a primary carer for cats in the area, grew up on a farm in Birregurra, Victoria.

She said she has always been in favour of compulsory cat registration.

“My cats are past the trouble stage, but I think it would be good for younger mischief-making cats in particular.”

The council has to introduce cat registration to comply with state legislation, and says it will take displays to Stockland and shows to provide public with information.

It is still to set a registration charge for cats, but it is likely to be in line with the fee for the region’s 14,000 registered dogs – $25 for desexed animals and $90 for entires.

Councillors were told the payment amnesty would encourage registration and reduce the initial financial impact.

Officers expect, however, that thousands of cat owners will fail to register despite the legislation which will bring Rockhampton in line with the south-east corner.