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Cats are our pets, our friends, and our playmates. However, in the eyes of the law, our cats are our property.
Just because we can own cats, we do not have the right to treat them however we please. Cats are living beings. Laws regulate the minimum standard of care that we must provide for them.
Saskatchewan’s Animal Protection Act requires cat owners—like all pet owners—to protect their cat from distress by:
Failure to live up to these laws could result in a fine of up to $25,000 or more, a prison sentence of up to two years, and a lifetime prohibition from owning any animal.
The law does not stop there. Canada’s Criminal Code also prohibits the mistreatment of animals. Fines of up to $2,000 and prison sentences up to six months can be given to anyone who:
In addition to federal and provincial laws, local municipalities can pass bylaws related to pets. For example, municipalities can require that your cat be registered, or prohibit cats from roaming at large in the community. Some municipalities also create limits on the number of cats allowed on an individual property.
Even if a law exists, there is no guarantee that a law will be followed. Too often we see stories in the news about animals being mistreated. If you have concerns that a cat or any other animal is being mistreated, contact your local SPCA or Humane Society, or get in touch with Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of pet owners and people in general follow the law and treat animals with kindness. In fact, it seems that most cat owners treat their cats as nothing less than a full-fledged member of the family.
It is an offence to under-feed your pet. Consider the opposite. Some animal owners have ran afoul of animal cruelty laws for obscenely overfeeding their animals. Overfeeding jeopardises an animal’s health and well-being. For cats, weight problems increase the risk of cancer, skin disorders, orthopedic disease, respiratory disorders, and other health problems.
At what point would over-feeding your cat reach the point of no longer providing “food and water sufficient to maintain the animal in a state of good health”?
If your cat is an outdoor cat, pet doors can give them better mobility between indoor and outdoor spaces. Even if the pet door only connects to a front porch, a spot with blankets in the porch can provide your cat with some protection from the elements.
What other ways can you ensure adequate shelter and protection for your cat?
Experts suggest that you should play with your cat for at least 10-15 minutes, once a day. Playtime is especially important for house cats. Not only does it keep them happy, but the exercise increases their flexibility, improves their blood circulation, and increases bone strength, amongst other things.
How can you provide your cat with opportunities for exercise? What impact, if any, do bylaws prohibiting cats from running at large have on a cat’s well-being?
The law requires pet owners to provide their animals with sanitary conditions. This means that their living spaces must be adequately clean. A clean litter box is one part of a plan to provide sanitary conditions for your cat. Providing one litter box for each cat in your home and scooping litter boxes daily helps create sanitary conditions.
How else can you create sanitary conditions for your cat? What other laws exist to deal with sanitization on our own property?
