PMC Records Poor Response to Cat Registration Drive with Only 217 Registered in 3 Years
PMC Records Poor Response to Cat Registration Drive with Only 217 Registered in 3 Years
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is grappling with a lukewarm response to its cat registration drive, launched to bring pet felines under formal regulation. Over the past three years, only 217 cats have been registered, a stark contrast to the 2,909 registered pet dogs in the same period, according to official figures.
The civic body introduced a dedicated registration system for cats in 2022-23, but the initiative got off to a slow start with zero registrations in its first year. Numbers saw a minor improvement later, with 104 cats registered in 2023-24 and 113 so far in the 2024-25 cycle.
To register a pet cat, owners must submit vaccination records, proof of address, and pet photographs, with an annual renewal process mirroring that for dogs.
Despite promoting its online platform, PMC Care, and running digital campaigns to raise awareness, the response from cat owners has remained limited. The portal facilitates pet registrations and offers resources on sterilization and vaccination for stray animals.
Civic officials say the low registration numbers are hindering efforts to control the stray cat population. Unregistered cats are difficult to track and sterilize, complicating population management initiatives.
PMC is urging more pet owners to register their cats, emphasizing that responsible ownership is essential to curb the rising stray population and improve overall animal welfare in the city.
