Toronto city hall has a reputation—deserved or not—for passing more regulations than its suburban counterparts. But while Hogtown thinks about scrapping its pet licensing requirement to save money, the 905 is cracking down on those vicious, sociopathic animals who butcher fowl and furniture alike: house cats.
The Toronto Star reports:
Oakville has joined neighbours Milton, Burlington and Hamilton in prohibiting cats from roaming free. The town has already banned dogs from running loose, but added cats to the list when it consolidated all animal bylaws last month.
Owners whose loose cats repeatedly end up at the Oakville shelter can be fined $105, plus a $30 town surcharge, a return fee of $25 and $15 for each day the cat stays at the shelter.
Johanne Golder said the mentality that cats are “disposable” pets (unwanted kittens are often abandoned or dumped at shelters) is to blame for the huge feline populations in urban centres.
The more cats, the fewer birds, said McGill University avian expert David Bird [whose name is hilarious, but not a joke—ed.].
So, if an Oakville cat is caught outside, spends one day in the shelter and is returned to its home, it will cost the owner $175 or so. Suddenly, our griping about summer camps doesn’t seem so bad after all. The whole clampdown on cats suddenly makes Toronto look like the wild west of pet regulation—our cats are unlicensed and free as the birds they’re feasting on.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t note that bird kills by domestic cats are actually a serious issue—far more lethal to bird populations than, say, wind turbines. Nothing seems to be as deadly to birds, though, as windows.
• Cats now housebound in Oakville — or owners face fine [Toronto Star]
(Image: Matt MacGillivray)
I find this article hilarious. I love you, Toronto Life.
January 18, 2011 at 12:45 pm | by wonderinwhyits really sad.
January 18, 2011 at 1:51 pm | by KateI’m impressed with Toronto and the surrounding cities that have moved forward with this type of legislation! Outdoor and feral cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year, not to mention all the other native wildlife. House cats are not a native predator.
January 18, 2011 at 3:47 pm | by KaraI don’t know if I should laugh or get on the phone my local government representative and tell them to stop being such birdbrains. What’s next, a regulation that decrees that all humans must become vegetarians or perhaps one that prevents people from walking since they might squash an ant? If you’re going so far as to punish a cat for being a predator and a carnivore you may as well go all out and ban windows on buildings.
January 18, 2011 at 3:52 pm | by BasilAs far as I’m concerned keeping cats indoors is a form of torture. I find this law laughable and hope no one follows suit. The next thing you know we’ll be forced to de-claw them!
January 18, 2011 at 6:07 pm | by BaruschelKeeping cats inside and dogs confined to the owner’s property is sensible.Dont know if anyone over there (Im in Australia)has seen the consequences of letting cats roam free.They can become feral and breed into animals that behave more like their much larger feline relations with severe consequences for native fauna.
January 19, 2011 at 12:55 am | by kenIt is amazing to what extent cats are being singled out for pretty rough treatment in a variety of ways. My Blog http://www.saveourcats.blogspot.com explores a whole range of stories where cats are the victims. I have 4 cats and a garden full of birds!
Thank you Toronto Life – your story will be passed on across the UK!
January 19, 2011 at 6:06 am | by Mike OwenThere are issues about the freedom of cats as well which are being restricted around the world: This story is on my facebook but for this and more about the threat to cats please see
January 19, 2011 at 6:33 am | by Mike Owenhttp://www.saveourcats.co.uk
Sorry I got carried away – replying twice! Another three people from Toronto sent me the story. Love to all Toronto Life readers from Birmingham and the Midlands and some of my old radio colleagues who work in radio in Toronto!
January 19, 2011 at 6:35 am | by Mike OwenSorry I can’t resist this but in Birmingham this morning we have a terrible story in which a breeder let cats starve to death!
January 19, 2011 at 6:49 am | by Mike OwenWhile I appreciate the humourous slant of this article, this by-law in Oakville makes a lot of sense. If you try to adopt from any cat rescue, they will ask you if you plan to let your cat outside. If you do, chances are you will not be approved. I can’t understand people who leave their cats out overnight, especially in the temperatures we have been experiencing. Studies show that indoor cats, when provided appropriate nutrition, exercise, and care, are far healthier than their outdoor counterparts. The chance of being exposed to disease, being hit by cars, or to abuse, is so great I don’t understand why people would want to let their cats out. If you feel they absolutely must go outside, put them on a leash in your yard or invest in one of the super-cool outdoor cat runs you can have built. It is truly not doing cats a disservice to keep them indoors and neutered/spayed.
January 20, 2011 at 7:39 am | by RobinRat and mouse populations will spike.
January 20, 2011 at 8:56 am | by JeffBut the cat in the picture appears to be a Toronto cat. I can tell from the window and view across the street. Just saying.
January 20, 2011 at 6:49 pm | by TrinidadI like cats. I have two of them. If I were a cat I’m sure I’d want to be an outside but.
But I’m just sick of the stupid cat(s) that pisses and craps all over my yard, often peeing directly on my kitchen door, making my kitchen smell like cat pee about once a week and my backyard almost unusable some weeks in the summer.
They’re cute and all but we have six different cats wandering in and out of our backyard – some obviously pets, some obviously feral – and I gotta say it’s freaking annoying since not one of them is ours.
It’s kind of ridiculous.
January 31, 2011 at 5:12 pm | by jeff316