Cats

Cat licensing became mandatory on January 1, 2007. For more information about how to license your cat, see Obtaining or Renewing your Licence 

In 2005, only 17% of cats in the city's animal shelters were able to be reunited with their owners because they had identification, meaning shelters were full of owned but unclaimed cats. This return-to-owner rate is markedly lower than the 88% return-to-owner rate for dogs. Our high success rate for returning lost dogs to their families is because of our dog licensing program, which is one of the best in North America.

Mandatory cat licensing will help achieve a higher return-to-owner rate for the impounded cats by connecting lost cats to their owners and having a system in place that can be updated annually as cat owners renew their licences.

Cat licences will cost $10 for a spayed / neutered cat, and $30 for an unaltered cat. All cats will be issued a tag but are not required to wear it if they have a microchip or legible tattoo.

In addition, the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw states that cats are not able to roam freely on public property. Cats, like dogs, must be confined solely to their owners' property. This change was made in response to the many citizens concerned about nuisance cats prowling, howling and digging on their private property. Animal Services strongly recommends that cats be kept indoors, not only to prevent them from becoming a nuisance in the community, but also to ensure their own safety and health. 

Cats are also not supposed to destroy the property of others or scatter garbage from garbage cans.