Here is a press release we issued on the two year anniversary of Côte Saint-Luc requiring owners of outdoor cats to purchase licenses.
Owners of outdoor cats are required to buy a licence for their cat, which includes a tag worn around the neck that can be used to help reunite lost cats to their owners.
“I implore cat owners to license their outdoor cats,” said Councillor Mike Cohen, who is responsible for the animal protection portfolio. “We have had some recent success stories about outdoor cats who got lost but were found and reunited with their owners thanks to the tags.”
In late August, Lydia Ghazal, a member of the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee (CSLCC), trapped a cat that had been hanging around her house for some time. The cat was terrified, starving but had a collar and tag around its neck. Diane Liebling, who oversees the CSLCC’s fostering program, took the cat in while Shelley Schecter from Educhat spoke with the city who was able to provide the contact information of the cat owner and they were reunited.
A few days later, the CSLCC was alerted that someone’s Siamese cat had left the home and not returned. Because the owner had purchased a license, it was easier for the CSLCC to assist in the search. Fortunately, the cat came back on its own.
“Personally, I have always had concerns about people who have outdoor cats,” Councillor Cohen said. “I have seen the pain and anguish experienced by some of my own neighbours, whose cats went out at night and never returned. The fact is, if you do insist upon having an outdoor cat then please purchase a license and make sure they are micro chipped by the local veterinarian. It is a small price to pay to significantly increase the odds if your cat goes missing.”
Outdoor cats in the City of Côte Saint-Luc need a cat licence following By-law 2394 that came into effect on November 1, 2012. Owners of outdoor cats must have them registered at City Hall (5801 Cavendish Blvd.) and obtain a cat identification tag, provide relevant information required to process the registration of the cat, and produce a certificate from their veterinarian stipulating that the cat has been spayed or neutered, provided the cat is six months or older.
The annual registration fee is $10 for an outdoor cat that is spayed or neutered and that bears a microchip or a tattoo, $15 for an outdoor cat that is spayed or neutered, but does not bear a microchip or tattoo, and $20 for an outdoor cat that is not spayed or neutered as a result of a medical exemption. The latter alludes to a feline 10 calendar years or older or one that has a medical exemption from the veterinarian attesting to the fact that it cannot be spayed or neutered. Fines will be issued to cat owners not complying with the by-law. They range from a minimum of $40 to a maximum of $1,200.
For more information about licensing, visit CoteSaintLuc.org/PetLicenses. For more information about the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee, visit CoteSaintLuc.org/cats.
