Winnipeg's cat licensing bylaw approved by city council

Winnipeg's new pet bylaw was approved by city council today, meaning cat owners will have to get their felines licensed starting in 2015.

Council members voted 12-4 on Wednesday in favour of the cat licensing portion of the bylaw.

That means cat owners will have to buy licences for their pets starting in January 2015.

• Winnipeg cat licensing bylaw passes city hall hurdle

The cat licensing program is expected to take effect Jan. 1, 2015, and charge $15 annually for spayed or neutered cats or $50 for those unfixed.

Failure to license a cat would result in a $250 fine, similar to the fine imposed for the failure to license a dog.

Part of the fees will go towards a spay and neuter program, and animal services officials will decide where the funding will go.

Mayor Sam Katz said the issue of cat licensing has been under discussion for more than 15 years.

Katz said he would still like to see low-cost spay and neuter clinics for cats, but he added that the project cost to cat owners would have to come down in order for it to succeed.

"I do believe $35 to $60 was expensive in my eyes," Katz said. "I'd like to see it done for less, and I think that's something we should continue to work on."

Also on Wednesday, councillors rejected the idea of allowing residents to raise chickens within city limits.

However, the rest of the bylaw was passed unanimously, including a ban on the use of exotic animals in travelling circuses.