Should the city license cats? Council debates Wednesday

Council will vote Wednesday night whether to establish a bylaw to license cats — an idea that draws mixed reviews from local animal activists.

Coun. Sam Merulla will propose having staff report back on the feasibility of such a program, which he says will "strategically manage the overpopulation of cats in Hamilton, thus resulting in responsible cat ownership."

It's Merulla's second animal-related motion this year. In February, he successfully moved to have city hall investigate a partnership with Hamilton-Burlington SPCA to adopt out Hamilton Animal Services (HAS) animals.

Local animal advocates aren't all on the same page regarding licencing.

Jill McKerrow-Collins, who moderates a group pushing for HAS to adopt out its animals, likes the idea. She's looked at licensing programs in Calgary, London and Winnipeg, and "I think it's a good idea."

It will work, she said, if the money goes toward programs that will reduce overpopulation, such as a lower cost spay and neuter program. She doesn't think it will discourage people from owning cats. It doesn't seem to with dogs, she said.

"Animal control doesn't go door to door to see if you have a license," she said.

The local fight on issues related to the cat overpopulation, including a program to have HAS adopt out animals, "has been a rough road," she said. "I'm just glad (Merulla) has stepped up."

Cindy Suffoletta, co-founder of Hamilton Street Cats, is skeptical. The cat population will only decrease if the city has an extensive trap-and-release program where animals are spayed and neutered, she said.

"To me, standing alone, it's not going to work," she said. "The city has to implement other programs in conjunction with cat licensing."

Here's what else is on Wednesday's city council agenda:

The meeting is at 5 p.m. at city hall council chambers at 71 Main St. W. CBC Hamilton reporter Samantha Craggs will tweet live. Follow her tweets in the window below or on Twitter at @SamCraggsCBC.

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