Council urges residents to be the purrfect parents for feline friends

Liverpool City Council is calling out to all cat purrents to ensure they are ticking the boxes of responsible cat ownership which includes microchipping, desexing and containing all four-legged pets to the owner’s property.

According to data from 2005-2021, 14,759 cats have been microchipped in Liverpool. However, less than a third (4,868) of these pets are registered, indicating only 32 per cent of residents in the Local Government Area (LGA) are ticking all the boxes of responsible cat ownership.

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said Council continues to provide information, access to free microchipping and subsidised desexing programs to help residents give their cats the best chance at a safe and happy life.

“We understand how special it is to be a ‘purrent’ and know that our residents want their cats to enjoy a long and enriched life. Registration and microchipping are important as it allows Council to identify lost cats and reunite them with their owner,” Mayor Waller said.

Getting your cat microchipped is a safe procedure where through an authorised veterinarian service, a small electronic chip - about the size of a grain of rice - is inserted under the skin in the back of a cat’s neck. The unique microchip number is linked to the NSW Companion Animal Register with details about the animal and owner, so when the chip is scanned, the owner can be identified.

“If you have moved, changed your phone number, or rehomed a cat, remember to update your pet’s details. You can access your pet’s microchip information and self-manage the details directly online at www.petregistry.nsw.gov.au,” Mayor Waller added.

Alarmingly, only 21 per cent of cats in the LGA have been desexed noting that kittens can reach puberty as young as four months of age and have up to three litters per year. Pre-pubertal or early-age desexing (before 16 weeks) is recommended by NSW RSPCA, NSW Animal Welfare League and NSW Cat Protection Society.

Desexing cats can help prevent unwanted litters, reduce the risk of mammary cancers and uterine infections, aggressive behaviour and most importantly the likelihood of a cat roaming, therefore reducing the risk of getting lost or injured.

“It’s essential that all cat owners remember to keep their feline friends contained to their property. It will help prevent unwanted litters, reduce the risk of them hunting native wildlife, cat fights and the spread of diseases. Essentially it keeps them out of harms way and avoids other injuries like being hit by a car,” said Mayor Waller.

“Being a responsible pet owner protects your pet, our local environment and the community,” Mayor Waller concluded.

For more information on Council’s free microchipping service or assistance to access the desexing subsidy program and lifetime registration, contact Liverpool City Council on phone 1300 362 170 or email [email protected].