Wellington, Kansas passed an ordinance last month that regulates the number of cats each household can own. Families in the area are now barred from owning more than 4 cats. The new restriction matches the number of dogs each household is allowed.
Police from the area have noted that in November of 2012 alone, 231 cats were picked up. According to Wellington Daily News, Police Chief Tracy Heath expressed that 87% of those cats were put down. “…Those are cats that go to the animal clinic, they’re there for the allotted time, and then unfortunately they are euthanized.”
The ordinance also set conditions for adopted cats. Cats shall be vaccinated for rabies; they must also be spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian, unless the cat is being adopted to a home outside of the city, according to Wellington Daily News.
While reactions to the ordinance are mixed, it remains unclear exactly how the new limit will impact the number of cats being euthanized.
