Do You Think It is Fair to Require Cats to be Registered?
Posted by: Roseglen
18th Apr 2011 08:51pm
I have two cats and they are both desexed and totally indoors cats. They wont even go outside when I do. Is it fair that I and other responsible cat owners should be forced to pay to register them?
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Comments 88
ozycash
If your local laws require registration then yes! Are you proposing that you are not required to follow any law that you think is not not fair for you but others have to abide by?
The laws are there for a reason, example pet registration fees go to pay for wildlife officers, controlling feral animals, etc
Sounds like you want more feral cats, dogs, rabbits, snakes, horses, etc.
Does not sound like you are a responsible person if you want more feral non-native animals to roam free killing our native animals!
lozza
no I have 6 and they are all desexed and microchipped why do they need to be registered as well
Anonymous
Yes I do think they should reg and de sexed
shellt
Yes. I have a cat and think they should be registered.
mich21
Yes I think cat owners should be treated the same as dog owners
Alex
Cat registration is an absurd idea. Like everything else involving 'registration' only good citizens pay up.
The trouble-makers and feral cats will never be registered.
So the rest of us pay for another layer of costly and useless public servants to 'police' this mad idea.
Here's a tip: Don't do it ... let them play their silly game by themselves.
Years ago my elderly mother was told she had to take out a Radio License and she did. I never did and that mad law was eventually repealed. Just don't co-operate with them.
shirl
Yes I do and I also think they should not be allowed to roam the neighbourhood. I agree that concils should maybe provide some cat play areas or something in return for the fees - but they would have to be enclose in some aspect - so who would use them?
I have a dog and a cat - and my cat has a run which we built outside the house so does not venture from our yard.
I got a warning from the council some months ago now because my dog was barking - but the reason it was barking was because there were two cats who kept jumping our fence and making him bark- and so when I got the warning I asked the council what they will be doing about the cats and they said they couldnt do anything because there was no registration for cats and no rules in our shire!
Bring on registration and curfews!
TATTY
No, I don't. If a law comes through that they have to, how many more strays will be on the street because the owner can't afford it ?
goanna
Cats should not be registered! Councils do anything to make money. Microchipping is good enough. If the cat is lost and handed in to either the council or a vet, the microchip number is scanned with the owner being notified. By law, all cats should be locked up during the night saving nocturnal animals. I have two cats which don't stray from the yard and mainly like staying in the house. If you see cats doing their business in your yard, spray them with a mixture of vinegar and water, 50/50, which will deter them. Other than that, you could try tossing some Nephalene flakes on the lawn and garden dettering them.
eccawees
I have 4 cats and live on a farm all my cats are desexed & microchipped I have to have them all registered as well as my 3 dogs. If it can help cut down the feral cat population & keep our pets safer so be it.
louotter
Hi, I have 12 cats who are always inside, desexed and vaccinated. I dont mind that I have to have them registered. If they ever did get outside I would rather have the peace of mind to know that if found they can be returned to my loving arms as soon as possible.
Tempest25
I have a couple of cats, and they are all desexed. None of them ever go outside, we built a cat run in the back yard to let them experience the great outdoors, and they run and hide every time i try to take them out there. We've had them since they were born, all desexed, and we are extremely careful not to let any of them out. They also show no interest in going out, in fact they're scared of going out. I see no reason to register cats, micro-chip them and register them with the National Council of Pet Welfare - it might not be called that, but its something similar. It was free and i did it a couple years ago. If they are micro-chipped and have id tags, they can be reported if they get injured. it doesn't make sense to me to register with the council.
That said, i have a dog which i register every year. He is more likely to go missing then my cats. I am a responsible pet owner, but i don't see the sense in registering cats.
chookybo
Hi Roseglen, I agree with you. Cats should not have to be registered. However, I do agree that they should be inside at night. If outside during the day, most cats dig a hole and do their business in it and then cover it up. Cats are usually clean creatures. Dogs on the other hand crap everywhere and if the owner is not a responsible dog owner, the crap is left for people to walk in. I notice that most of the people who want cats to be registered are dog owners. Well, I have no problem with my dog being registered, but object to having to have the cat registered. I also object to dogs being able to run lose as I have been walking down the street minding my own business and have been sneakily attacked from behind by a vicious dog. A well mannered dog is a joy and a credit to its owner. A vicious bad mannered dog - enough said!
Anonymous
Cats should be registered, and they should have a night time curfew. I have a puppy that barks at the cats at night and I am the one that people complain about because it is my dog barking......in actual fact it it the cat owner. I keep my dog registered and in a secure backyard, so should cat owners!
mismoo
Im with you. I haven't registered my cats as they my cats never ever go outside, they have indoor playgrounds lot's of toys and heaps of attention. Yes they have both been desexed and microchipped and everyone knows not to put them outdoors as it is too dangerous for them and this way we save all native wildlife. If they remain indoors they are doing no harm and don't need registering.
Jezemeg8
May I pose another question? Is it fair that my service dog needs to be registered when she never leaves my side, is fully immunised, desexed and well trained and socialised yet I have to pay the extra charge to 'educate' others on responsible pet ownership?
Life isn't fair, so please get over it and pay the registration.....
Faysie
All pets should be micro-chipped....We had an indoor cat and somepne let it out..never to be seen again..if it had been micro-chipped it could have been returned to us..
chookybo
I agree that all pets should be micro-chipped. This would solve the problem. Then cats would not need to be registered as the micro-chipping is a once off thing where registration is a revenue raising matter.
Raksha
The key word here is 'responsible' owners. Some people have the idea that a cat can roam where it pleases and all they have to do is provide food and water for it. Cats are hunters and they will kill any small animals they find. I live on a rural property with areas of native bush and trees and in the last 10 years since our neighbours have started keeping cats our ground dwelling birds, whip birds, curlews, and bower birds have been wiped out.
I know registering their cats would not stop this from happening, but it may make them think twice about keeping more than one or two cats instead of a dozen.
Woodgrub
No - I have 2 cats and they do not go wandering the streets, being a pest by barking all day-night long. leaving surprises for you on your lawn, driveway, open spaces, parks or footpath. They do not Bite or Injure Adults or Children without reason. Cats only bite or scratch if they are provoked only.
Anonymous
No. It is not really about being fair or not but cats and dogs are very, very different creatures. If my dog gets loose there is this kind of panic in the household. He is registered and chipped but he should NOT be out there free to roam. He is a great dog, very friendly, scared as of stuff and really nice all in one. I dont think he would bite or attack anyone BUT I dont know what the circumstances are out there on the street. he has been hit and lost a leg but all good 3 legs as good as 4. My cats go out and disappear, so? They dont have that same dangerous potential and I like my cats to be home bodies - they like it too. Its not the same for cats. I think they should be chipped!
CAT17
Just wanted to add this comment to the chat -Roseglen you really got us going with your question "to register or not the cats!" AREN'T PEOPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS SUBJECT!!
CAT17
I guess it is like everything, you have responsible pet owners and then there are others. My cat is an indoor (appartment) cat and I see no reason to register her. She goes no where, however those cats that are allowed to roam free may be they should be registered. It would make finding their owners easier. If the fee was reasonable I dont see a problem.
Astrojunkie
As far as I am aware, in New Zealand, there is no requirement or law that says you have to have a cat registered, but, if you acquire one from the (R)SPCA here,, they are microchipped. This is also very useful when you take your pet to the vetinary surgeon or if the animal becomes lost.
coxy32
I have a dog who does not go out of our yard, but he has to be registered every year. He is desexed and microchipped. Is it fair that I have to register him because of other irresponsible dog owners cant looke after their animals.
mismoo
I am in the same situation and I don't think I should have to register them as they are both microchipped in case they ever got outside accidently. Besides they love it indoors and don't harm any wildlife or property at all. Why should we be penalised?
Jade Simpson
I think it is another money grab. I don't like it at all.
Jell93
I don't feel it is fair. I am in the same situation as you, 2 cats, both desexed and indorre. I have a cat-run, so they can get outside without harming anyone, so why should we have to pay for registration, when our cats are the ones not causing trouble.
Jell93
I have 2 indoor cats, and I have built a cat-run for them to enjoy the outside, see what is going on in the street, and sleep in the sun...all without destroying wildlife.
While I can see the need for registration of cats if they readily roam the neighbourhood, if they are permanently indoors, or contained to the property, ie cat-run, I find it hard to see the need.
stretch
it is a waist of time to register a cat as most generally lay in the sun and love being indoors
and the ones that walk down the street waging there tail are normally well know by the neighbours
so yes it would be a waist of time and finances
but the government would have another way of raising revenue for there pay increase for personal gain
Joydy
Cats can do damage if let out - kill birds and small wild life - they need to be registered and kept inside! We all need to be responsible citizens - don't let your cat poo in my garden!
betty
no i dont have dogs or cats but I have birds, and the other people cats, a nuisance and there is 24 hour curfew, but they are still out. Nobody listen.
moreta
I have two basically indoors cats. One only goes out when I go up to the letterbox and she comes with me.
Cats should be registered, how else can any form of control exist? Councils can't tell us responsible owners from the rest.
I'm a safe and responsible driver but I still have to register my car :-)
sssunshine
I don't think cats should be registered - it is just another way of getting money/revenue for the council. Even if your cats went outside, it is inevitable that they would roam. Cats are quite different to dogs. The people that are irresponsible often don't register their dogs either.
Maggie
I have two cats and two dogs and all are desexed, registered with the council and the Pet Register and are microchipped so hopefully they will always be returned should they ever get lost! I don't mind paying a reasonable registration fee for my cats however when my council first introduced cat registration it was only $2 per cat, it is now $19 per cat and in my opinion a rip-off!
I agree with Roseglen, I don't see why anyone should have to pay anything if the cats never go out.
SereneBee
Yes -- you might be a responsible cat owner but you're def. in the minority. Plus what about indoor dogs?
dondo
Yes, If dogs have to be registered then so should Cats. I have lost count how many of our beautiful native birds I've found that have been killed by Cats.
Retired
If a cat is an indoor cat I do not think you should have to pay registration fees. It is just money making for the government.
Harley man
I feel that it is not only fair that all cats be registered they should all also be micro chipped and required to wear radio collars as they cause so much destruction to the native animals and I also believe dogs should also be required to be treated in the same way for the same reason. Australian native dogs do not destroy as much as the introduced species do.
Laughaminute
I guess I missed my own point. If Dogs are not allowed to roam free, why are cats? They are both introduced animals and can both become a real problem if let go. They then become feral and will do a huge amount of damage to livestock and wildlife. If both are registered, there is more of a liklihood that the "pet" concerned will be better looked after. Cat owners seem to think that cats are 'wild' animals - if that is the case, why do you have them? Does not being wild say that the species could be dangerous? With domestic cats, I don't think so. That is a cop out for the owners not training the cats, and I have known cats that have been trained. Too easy, if you care to try.
ny
Both my cats are desexed, micro-chipped and registered but, I do think the registration is a bit of revenue raising. On the plus side one of the cats lost her collar with the registration tag attached and the Council did replace it at no cost.
moonbear
I live on the corner of 2 very busy roads,so my cats are inside ones.
Since they don't venture out & cause any problems,i think that distinctions need to be made for inside & outside cats.
Cats that stay inside obviously won't cause any problems or stray into neighbours gardens.
dadsown123
i have had cats and dogs and both should be registered, all the cats in the neighbour roam in everyone elses garden but if a dog did it would be taken to the pound. I for one am sick of the cats using my japanese gravel garden as a giant kitty litter
maxi
yes i do.i had a cat and she was kept indoors
marney
Yes to registration what if they get lost Registration/microchipping guarantees you your pet is returned
Gilbere'
It seems your cats are the exception. I'm sick & tired of removing cat faeces from my yard. However, to answer your question, yes! I believe cats should be registered so they can be identified at the council's Animal Control Centre, when picked up in a cat cage.
Analog6
We have 6 indoor cats. Our cats have a cattery in the garden, connected by a wire tunnel to the window, and a netted first floor verandah. So, yes, I can confidently say they never go outside.
But I do support registration (and microchipping) but agree most councils do little for cat owners. I think a very reduced fee for people like myself who can prove they have made enclosed outdoor facilities for their cats so there is no prospect of them roaming would be a good start.
And encouragement to cat owners to construct a cattery would be good too. Mine cost under $400 (plus some scratched hands, a lot of elbow grease and some bad language) and is worth its weight in gold. I know they are always safe, rarely catch wildlife - the occasional reptile is brought in from the cattery, but no birds in the 8 years it;s been up - and best of all I don't have to worry about road accidents and big vet bills.
Jackie
I think it's necessary to register cats incase the moggy disappears and with the registration of the cat, I feel it might be found and returned safely to the owner.
Macca54
Of course they should the same as any Dog owner has to even if they are a dog that lives in the house.
Laughaminute
I had a dog from 8 weeks old. She had to be registered even though she didn't go outside the yard unless on a leash. When she went out on a leash it was for a number of reasons: She could be kept under control at all times, could not annoy other dogs or, yes, cats, She was not able to attack children ( not htat she would as she love to be patted). Cats on the other hand, are left to their own devices. They fight other cats in the night hours and make that dreadful "catawhaling" racket outside other peoples windows, they foul other peoples gardens and yard.They also jump up onto people cars and scratch the duco and god forbid you leave a window open so they can spray inside!! My neighbour had a recurring problem with a local cat continuing to spray up her front door. Why should we non-cat owners have to put up with this. Register cats? Yes!! Limit the number of cats per property? Yes!!!
Sammbo
You say "...Cats on the other hand, are left to their own devices. They fight other cats in the night hours and make that dreadful "catawhaling" racket outside other peoples windows, they foul other peoples gardens and yard.They also jump up onto people cars and scratch the duco and god forbid you leave a window open so they can spray inside!! My neighbour had a recurring problem with a local cat continuing to spray up her front door. Why should we non-cat owners have to put up with this"
Exactly how will Cat Registrations fix your problems?
skier
I'd like to see a system in place for cat registration but if the owner can verify their moggy is desexed, microchipped and shut inside at night then there a zero charge. And of course a similar scheme for all the responsible dog owners!!!
Teneal
I am for cat registration. Anything that may help, even a tiny bit, to control the cat population is worth it.
My cat is in indoor cat, only goes outdoors in an enclosure. She is still microchipped and registered, just in case, heaven forbid, she gets out and ends up lost.
mummy2jj
yes i think it is fair for cats to be registered. i have 2 dogs and they stay in the back yard and when we go out for walks they are on a leash and never once have they caused problems or run away. rules are in place for a reason
Anonymous
i have 2 cats that are out door cats but sleep inside at night! they have never hunted anything apart from the occasional grass hopper or mouse that my be around the yard but i dont think its fair to register cats they are more of a wild animal then a pet!!! and when the are outside they usually play with my dog or just sit under the tree in the back yard they hardly ever go out side the yard!
brumar
I don't believe they should be registered (and yet another money raiser for councils/government). However it should be compulsory for them to micro-chipped.
sunshine
I have a cat that is inside all the time, she never wants to go outside, and I think that we shouldn't have to pay for registration for them....she is desexed, and is a pampered puss.....
Kerensa
I agree with Sunshine and Woodie - both my cats are indoors ones - I have done the right thing and had them desexed, on top of that they are both "rescue" cats - what am I supposed to be getting from the council in return for my registration fee? Plus, cats don't knock over bins, chew neighbours shoes, bark incessantly etc etc. They are much less of nuisance than dogs can be and really, if they are kept indoors, the council doesn't have to actually DO anything for the owner once the cat is registered. Not really fair is it? Shouldn't you get some sort of service from a business if you have to pay them money? What's next - registering mice and birds?
woodie
It's just the Council being greedy as usual. If it moves, they want to register it. It's getting out of hand.
woodie
It's just the Council being greedy as usual. If it moves, they want to register it. It's getting out of hand.
Roseglen
Absolutely. They show no inclination to be outdoors even when I am outside and the door is open.They are too fat and lazy and pampered to want to hunt.
chookybo
I agree with you. Cats should not have to be registered. However, I do agree that they should be inside at night. If outside during the day, most cats dig a hole and do their business in it and then cover it up. Cats are usually clean creatures. Dogs on the other hand crap everywhere and if the owner is not a responsible dog owner, the crap is left for people to walk in. I notice that most of the people who want cats to be registered are dog owners. Well, I have no problem with my dog being registered, but object to having to have the cat registered. I also object to dogs being able to run lose as I have been walking down the street minding my own business and have been sneakily attacked by a vicious dog. A well mannered dog is a joy and a credit to its owner. A vicious dog - enough said!
woodie
I agree with you. It's just money making greed. They are trying to charge for any animal a person owns. Everyone talks about Cat's being dangerous to wildlife. Ours mainly catch Rats and Mice which keeps them pretty busy. There is more chance of Foxes and Hawks getting wildlife. In fact, many years ago the Feral Cats in a certain area were culled to try and increase wildlife. What they found was the population of Birds etc Dwindled and the Rabbit and Fox population increased. This is not widely spoken about as people need a reason to put garbage on Cats. The problem is that there are too many people around now who have nothing better to do than whinge about things.
cazza
I would like to see a council ranger catch my cat. I am a responible cat owner and think cat registration is just revenue raising.
krin
The cats you currently own might not go outside, but what about the next one or two? I'm sure you would want the security of them being safe if picked up outside by a council ranger...
Anonymous
Can you be 100% that they will NEVER vanture outside.
Roseglen
I think you missed my point. I have two dogs and they are also inside dogs and both are registered and desexed BUT we do go to council dog parks and I walk them on a lead elsewhere and I always carry a doggy doo bag so I can clean up after them if they happen to poop. . Registering them also safeguards if they happen to go missing and Council Pounds pick them up!
My cats on the other hand NEVER venture outside and dont annoy other people or eat the native wildlife.I also clean their litter trays. The council doesnt do any thing for catowners.
buffy
I have own five cats in my life time,they come and go as they please,night or day.They are natural hunters,you cannot make cats stay in side all the time they would go crazy.you no cats pick there owners not the other way round.
Let a ct be a cat!
Anonymous
Completly agree with you and in a very similar sintuation myself. Seems very unfair.
Anonymous
I still dont understand Sarah...what difference does the registration make? I register my dog and he gets a little tag, dam expensive tag but I mainly do it so that if he roams and is picked up by someone or other they can take him into the council and they can charge me more money for the courtesy of holding him. Cats are not the same. I do agree that they should be in at night, mainly for their safety. Do you think the council will catch cats and ring owners then?
coxy32
I was at a mates place the other weekend, he has no pets and on his back lawn were a number of droppings from the neighbours cats. I also had cats as a child and if the ground is firm they cant cover their droppings. Dont you see birds in your inner suburb. I work in a capital city and there are plenty of areas for small wildlife to live.
Sammbo
Wildlife in the inner suburbs?
Cats invariably cover their doings.
You just don't like cats do you?
coxy32
No the comment was endanger wild life, not endangered wildlife. Also cats when out side crap wherever they feel like and have no one around to pick up after them, unless you are following them around with a little pooper scooper.
Sammbo
That's hardly an argument! Simply an opinion.
Endangered wildlife? In the inner suburbs?
Best of luck getting an extreme recommendation like that off the ground.
coxy32
Well Sammbo, speaking of such well thought out arguments, maybe it should be required that all cat owners have cat runs installed, so their precious animal can go outside at night, but cant endanger the wild life.
Sammbo
I just had a long chat with my cat and he disagrees with everything you've said.
In fact, he said "You've got six cats all locked up with nowhere to go and not even any time off for good behavior. That's not a life!
We're not all feral and there's nothing wrong with a bit of sport at night.
Jeez if it wasn't for me and my mates you'd be over-run with rats and mice.
Kill native birds? Aww c'mon. They're nocturnal and sleep at night way up high in nests. The only birds I've nailed have been during the day and if I can get 'em they're pretty dumb and not long for this world anyway.
This curfew is something else. Who came up with that?
Locked up by 8pm and released at 6am. Hello! In summer it's still light at 8pm and I'm often enjoying time out with my owners at a BBQ.
What about my rights?"
Analog6
NO, no, no - this is somethign I am passionate about. Cats should be IN at night, and preferably all the time. Night is the most dangerous time for your cats to be out. Cars, dogs, strange people - it is a danger fraught world out there for a small animal like a cat. We have 6 cats and they are inside cats, they have a cattery in the garden and a netted verandah (10m x 2m) and we rent, so it can be done.
And it pays off at the vet care end - we haven't had an accident caused vet bill in 8 years, no injuries, no illnesses, nothing nasty ingested when they are roaming. It is NOT their job to hunt rodents at night, it is your job to care for them. And they are far more likely to kill native birds, frogs and lizards, even if you don't see them do it, than mice anyway.
The day of the free ranging cat is over, our society in any reasonably sized town is now too developed for it to be safe.
sarah
Cats have a natural instinct to hunt and they are beautifully designed to do it. During the day the birds and other wildlife are more alert and have a chance to escape. At night they are too vulnerable. All cats should be kept inside at night. Unfortunately not all owners are as responsible as Cazza so the registration has become necessary.
cazza
Obviously you Sammbo! The reason cats should be kept indoors at night is to protect the wild life.
Sammbo
Who can respond to such a well thought out argument?.
That it Cazza .. no nights out for anybody's cats.
cazza
I am a cat owner and I don't think cats should be allowed out at night.
Sammbo
Totally agree. We get zilch for our cat registration fees.
Now my Council has established a cat curfew.
Wake up! Cats are hunters, it's their job to hunt rats and mice at night.
optomauz
Yes. I own a dog and it's not fair that cats don't need registration. He roam EVERYWHERE!
lozza
I hate getting up in the morning and walking out the front door to be blown away with the smell because someones Tomcat has sprayed. They have even sprayed on one of my female cats even though she has been desexed I have 6 all desexed.
Anonymous
Yes I have a well trained lab she is a very obedient ,walks with me ,rides in the car will only go to front of home to collect the Mai from the post man, goes shopping in hatch back car will wait in car while I am shopping and I can leave rear hatch door up and I. Tell her to stay while I am shopping she won't leave the car .will also walk alongside me and will carry her own lead in her mouth , she will only come come out side the front gate unless I tell her to she can come.
A very socical dog loves children loves to play with me ,and a. Football .
Toni
Hi Mrs Daffy, we have a cat that is basically an indoors cat, and is never outside after dark. She's not the usual kind of cat, in so far as she isn't particularly curious nor does she climb anything so there's no danger of her climbing a tree or escaping over the wall. She is registered though. Our problem is other people's cats! I'm so over it! We can hear cat fights most nights out on the street. There are usually a few cats in our yard at night that drive our cat to distraction. They howl at her while she howls back through the windows and glass sliding door. They spray everywhere. A couple of years ago, one of them hurled themselves screaming against the glass in our bedroom window to get at our cat. I literally jumped out of bed, but my husband fell onto the floor and dislocated his shoulder. We can laugh about that now, but really couldn't then. We don't know who owns these cats. There are no collars on them. We see them all around our area during the day rather than in any particular yard. We thought about trapping them and taking them to the pound, but on average it's $60 a week to hire a trap. Perhaps it's time we lashed out and hired one? Perhaps the only way to teach these cat owners is through their wallet. I have spoken to the local Council, who have told me that they cannot do anything unless they have address of the cat owner. Ummm ... ok.
mrsdaffy
I have a dog and where I live there are two cats which roam the area, I have had 1 sit on my kitchen window sill. I have had them come into my front garden and use it as a toilet. We have had to go to the expense of spraying stuff around to stop them. The local council by law is they have to be registered and kept inside or in cat run. I agree whole heartily that cats have to be registered and it is about time that council impose their laws. My dog goes nuts over the cats in our yard. Hate to see what he would do if he got one.
Anonymous
I totally agree that cats need to be registered.