Under the 2008 Act, which requires all dogs to be registered, cat registration became mandatory on December 12. 

Micro chip registration is compulsory if a cat or dog is under 12 weeks of age, if an unchipped animal is sold or given and if an existing dog is declared regulated.

It is an offence under the Act to supply a cat or dog to anyone without micro chipping the dog or cat.  Residents are urged to take advantage of free registration for desexed cats until June 2011.  Registration for a cat that is not desexed will be $35.00 per year.

In response to legislative requirements of the Animal Management Act 2008, it has become necessary for all cat owners in the Cairns region to register their pets with Council Regional Council.

Mayor Val Schier said Council was compelled under the Act to keep up to date registries of all cats and dogs across the region.

“Registering a pet entails the owner filling out a form declaring they own the dog or cat and the pet wears either a tag or has a microchip inserted under the skin identifying its owner.  The service incurs a fee, because it enables Council to quickly match a pet with an owner if it is lost or strays,” Cr Schier said.

“The obligatory registration of cats came into force on Monday (Dec 20th), but there is a grace period.  Cat owners are required to register their pets by March 11, 2011,” Cr Schier said.