Belgium - Belgium plans to neuter most cats as feline population explodes

[Tan]

If it is passed into law, the country will embark on a phased neutering of all cats except exotic pedigrees at the start of next year, and there will be a ban on using corner shops, noticeboards and small ads to get rid of unwanted litters of kittens.

Good but hope it doesn't produce a "Black market" or more cruelty. Somehow these ads have to be stopped and get people to go through rescue.

Finally, all cat owners will be obliged to have their pets sterilised and registered, costing about €130 (£108) for a female cat and €50 for a tom. Breeders and owners of Siamese, Abyssinian and other special pedigrees will be exempted from the new regime.

Wish we could do that here.

Good on them as least they are trying to handle it in a humane way unlike other EU countries. 

[Fire Fox]

I am confused by "Initially, all cats in shelters will be sterilised" ... why aren't they doing that already?? Also confused by "It won't be easy. They'll never be able to sterilise all the cats" ... obviously not - no legislation is 100% effective! And what about "If you buy a very expensive cat for €600 and want to have kittens, you can't sterilise them all," uuummmm, can't you?

[blackcat]

Not entirely convinced that 'owners' of pedigreed cats should be exempt - better that all 'owners' be required to comply and only registered, regularly policed breeders be permitted to keep entires, IMO

[Angiew]

It's a good start.....

if it makes even a 10% difference in the number being neutered then its a success!

[Mark]

Will be great if they can enforce it. I would like to see it extended. I will read it properly later, but I assume that there will be no kittens for sale, except by registered breeders? - I also wonder what the penalties will be? - the typical BSB isn't the average law-abiding citizen though 

[Angiew]

sorry if its been posted before -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/03/blegium-plans-to-neuter-cats

interesting.......