City of Belmont says most of the cats put down in past year were feral

MOST of the cats impounded by the City of Belmont are feral, according to chief executive John Christie.

The City of Belmont put down about 80 per cent of the cats it impounded in the last financial year.

From nine metropolitan councils surveyed, the City put down 63 of the 76 cats it impounded.

Mr Christie said once an impounded animal had not been reclaimed after eight days it was the responsibility of the City’s Animal Care Facility, Julie’s Boarding Kennels, to deal with.

“Julie’s Boarding Kennels make all efforts to re-home animals through their re-homing program but unfortunately, the great majority of the cats impounded by the City are feral which by reason of temperament and or health are unsuitable for re-homing, which is why more dogs are re-homed than cats,” he said.

Despite having some of the lowest numbers of impounded animals of the councils surveyed, the City of South Perth also put down a high number of animals.

In 2016-2017 seven dogs and 19 cats were put down at the City of South Perth’s Animal Care Facility compared with the two cats and two dogs in the previous year.

Mayor Sue Doherty said the increase in rates for animals taken into its Animal Care Facility was primarily due to them being sick, injured or as result of prosecution from serious attacks.

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