City may eliminate licenses for cats but not dogs, pigs, bees

Cat owners in Port Washington may not need to get licenses for their feline friends for much longer.

The city’s General Government and Finance Committee last week heard a proposal to eliminate the cat licensing requirement, in large part because few people abide by the law.

The city only issues between 20 and 30 cat licenses each year, according to a memo from City Attorney Matt Nugent.

“I think it’s clear there are more than 30 cats in the city,” he told the committee.

The cost of administering the licenses is more than the fees collected by the city, according to Nugent’s memo.

Because of this, he said, the Finance Department stopped issuing cat licenses “with no known negative impact,” so it only makes sense to change the ordinance and eliminate the licensing requirement.

The city continues to require dogs to be licensed, something officials noted requires owners to provide proof of rabies vaccination.

Ald. Mike Gasper noted that the city has had more problems with stray cats than stray dogs, and that unless someone complains, the city has traditionally turned a blind eye to offenders.

Officials noted that the city also requires licenses for pot bellied pigs and bees.

The proposed ordinance change will be reviewed by the Common Council in the future.