Feline subsidy to be purrfect

Kwinana cat owners have the option to sterilise their pets at no cost as part of a subsidy to help low-income earners and pensioners meet the legal requirements of the Cat Act.

The City of Kwinana rangers team, the Kwinana Veterinary Clinic, and the Department of Local Government and Communities have banded together to offer assistance to help residents sterilise their feline friends.

The department enforced the full Cat Act 2011 in November 2013, which required all cats that have reached six months of age be microchip ped, sterilised and registered with the relevant local government.

Within the Act, cats are required to wear a collar and registration tag to ensure owned cats can be easily identified and returned to their owner.

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said a cat sterilisation subsidy had been approved to cover the entire cost of sterilising a pet cat at the clinic.

"We all love our pets and while cats can be great companions, they can also get up to mischief when let loose," she said.

"The cat sterilisation subsidy aims to minimise these occurrences, which should both protect our wildlife and decrease the need to re-home feral cats in the area."

Kwinana Veterinary Clinic veterinarian Dave Priest encouraged community members to take advantage of the subsidy while it was available.

"It is responsible ownership and it is also about being considerate of other owners' animals as well," he said.

The subsidy is available until April 17 next year. Contact 9439 0200.