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12 THINGS THAT WHYALLA CAT OWNERS NEED TO KNOW
- All cats must be microchipped after July 1, 2018 and registered between July 1 and August 31.
- All cats born after July 1, 2018 must be desexed, microchipped and registered.
- Only registered breeders can own non-desexed cats born after July 1, 2018.
- Cats born before July 1, 2018 do not have to be desexed but must be microchipped and registered.
- It costs $5.50 to register a microchipped and desexed cat
- It costs $11 to register a cat that is not desexed or microchipped
- Expiation notices of $170 can be issued under the new Act to those people with cats that are not microchipped
- Expiation notices can be issued under City of Whyalla bylaws to those people with unregistered cats.
- Cats can be registered on the new DACO online system or by contacting council on 8640 3444 for assistance with using the new system.
- Those people in Whyalla who already have a registered cat should wait until they receive a renewal notice before going on DACO to renew their registration.
- Cats must be contained within a house or enclosure between the hours of 10pm and 6am.
- More information on cat microchipping, desexing and registration can be found at http://www.dogandcatboard.com.au/
The new State Government Dog and Cat Management Act requires all cats in Whyalla to be microchipped after July 1 this year.
This adds to an existing City of Whyalla bylaw, enacted in 2014, that requires all cats to be registered.
Other laws under the new Act include a requirement that cats born after July 1 this year must be desexed if you are not a registered breeder.
Cats born before July 1 this year are not required to be desexed but are required to be microchipped by the age of 12 weeks and registered. If you acquire a cat that isn’t microchipped, it must done within 28 days.
To encourage Whyalla residents to have their cats desexed, registration fees for desexed cats is $5.50. Cats that are not desexed will cost $11 to register.
Expiation notices of $170 can be issued under the new Act for any cat not microchipped. Expiation notices can also be issued under the Council bylaw for any cat in Whyalla not registered. There will also be hefty fines for anyone found to be breeding cats without the necessary licence.
Microchipping and registration of cats is the most effective form of permanent identification for your cat. A bit like product barcodes, the microchip carries a code unique to each cat. This code is recorded on a national database and appears on the certificate of identification given to an owner.
As collars and tags can fall off cats, microchipping is the best way to have your cat returned if it happens to go missing or gets lost.
“These new laws and measures are designed to help cat owners,” City of Whyalla Senior Compliance Officer Rachel Coles said.
“The microchipping will allow us to easily identify stray or lost cats and return them quickly to their owners.
“It is a proven fact that desexing increases a cat’s life expectancy, obviously stops unwanted litters and reduces unwanted behaviours.”
Microchipping does not, however, automatically mean your cat is registered with Council. Cats must still be registered via the new Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) database at www.dogsandcatsonline.com.au (available after July 2) or by contacting Council on 8640 3444 for assistance using the online system.
Those with cats already registered should, however, wait until they receive their renewal notices, sometime in July, before going online to renew their registration. Owners have between July 1 and August 31 to register their cats.
You can manage the details (your address and contact information) on your cat’s microchip through the DACO database. If you move or change your phone details, it is important to update them for your cat’s sake.
Those obtaining a cat already microchipped should ensure they get the details changed from the previous owners.
Microchips are tiny, the size of a rice grain, and inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades of the cat. The procedure is not painful and there is no ongoing discomfort.
To help cat (and dog) owners, Council is running another $10 microchipping day on Saturday, June 30 at the Whyalla Dog Park on Searle Street. Microchipping can cost up to $50 or more from a vet so this is an ideal opportunity to save some money and have your cat recorded and safely returned if lost.