Given the large number of stray cats in Latvia and the amount of money spent on shelters, trapping and neutering, a large number of cats will now have to be chipped and registered.
Agija Mediņa, Head of the Animal Trade, Welfare and Feed Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, told Latvian Television: "The aim is to reduce the number of stray animals ending up in shelters. If an animal ends up in a shelter, a chipped, registered cat finds its owner very quickly and returns home."
From July 1, it will be compulsory to chip and register cats entering shelters; cats left in a pet hotel by their owner for a period of time; cats entering shows and auctions; cats entering Latvia from other countries; cats used for breeding; and all cats and kittens sold or given to someone else,
"And another category is cats that go outside the owner's territory or possession. Cats that are free-roaming outside the yard - sterilized, chipped, registered," the Ministry of Agriculture representative added.
If a cat lives in an apartment, for example, it is not obligatory to mark and register the animal. However, owners are encouraged to still assess the risks.
