The Law and the Pussycat: Public Perceptions of the Use of Municipal Bylaws to Control Free-Roaming Domestic Cats in Canada

ABSTRACT

Domestic cats (Felis catus) face contradictory public perceptions. In 2019, we examined public perceptions toward cats within the City of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, using an online survey (1,464 responses) to assess perceptions toward free-roaming cats and the use of bylaws to address concerns. Perceptions were dependent on cat-ownership status; a majority of non-cat and former owners were concerned about free-roaming cats, current cat owners less so. There was considerable support for mandatory identification. Cat owners were not supportive of bylaws restricting free-roaming of cats, although this was supported by non-owners. Concerns include the negative impact on caring for a pet cat, and the fear that such bylaws would increase abandonment. Cat owners were not enthusiastic about fines for roaming cats, while non-cat owners were. There was considerable concern around including neutering cats as part of planned cat management. Our research also found nuanced concern for the impacts of management on impoverished owners, the welfare of cats and a recognition that it was the humans, rather than the cats, who should be the focus of active and thoughtful intervention.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic cats
• free-roaming cats
• cat bylaws

Acknowledgments

We thank our partners for supporting this research: The City of Prince George’s Bylaw Services, British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; College Heights Veterinary Clinic; Hart Veterinary Clinic; Prince George Spay and Neuter Clinic; and the Prince George Veterinary Clinic. We would also like to thank Dr. D. A.J. R Ryan and the UNBC Office of Research for funding support and Rioghnach Steiner for research support. This work was conducted on the Traditional Territories of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.

Disclosure statement

Neither author has a conflict of interest to declare in terms of funding, benefit or influence.

Notes

1. Free-roaming cats face greater risk of injury or death from other pets, wildlife, cars or irate neighbors (Bruce et al., 2019; Loyd et al., 2013; Tan et al., 2020).

2. Although both now keep their cats indoors, due to local wildlife concerns.

Additional information

Funding

This was funded by UNBC RSIG; University of Northern British Columbia