A CAT’S LICENSE.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 117, 21 January 1926, Page 3

A CAT’S LICENSE.

TO STOP DISEASE CARRIERS. An idea originating in Edinburgh of licensing cats was mooted by the Scottish Socieay lor the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals some years ago, and an endeavour was made to get the co-operation of the kindred English body, but this was not forthcoming. Twelve months ago the Scottish Society renewed their overtures, hut the English Society once more asserted that they did not think the time opportune for a plea for legislation, and the Scottish Society then decided to seek a measure for Scotland alone. The Scottish Society covers an area of twenty-five counties, and the first step is the sounding of the 150 local authorities in t hat Urea with regard to the need or otherwise for the proposed measure. The step is to make . sure of the support or other societies which operate in the rest of Scotland, and then get a Scottish M.P. to bring the Bill before Parliament as a private member’s measure. It Is hoped to do this some time in the life of the present Parliament. The suggested Bill has. already been drafted, and its principal clause makes it necessary that all cats should be licensed, and that the chief constables should issue licenses at a charge of one shilling for each cat. The police would also he empowered to seize stray cats. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that the proposed measure Is not so much on behalf of the cats themselves as in the interests of public health. The motive force behind the ctn3j>aign is the undoubted fact that stray cats are active carriers of disease. The Scottish Society points out that last year they collected no fewer than 4862 s-tray cats, and that this year they have already humanely destroyed 3091 cats. Practically in every case the cat was destroyed because it was mangy, verminous, or otherwise a more or less perfect agent for the spread of infection. A large proportion of these stray cats were gathered from Edinburgh slum areas, where the crowding of people in high tenements makes a cat a kind of communal plaything with definite ownership a matter of doubt and increasing the risk of infection. The Scottish Society are hopeful of at least 5000 good breakfasts, them in their campaign. So far some half-dozen replies have been received to their circular request, and they are all favourably disposed. Much, of course, depends upon the attitude of Edinburgh Corporation Public Health Committee. This body discussed the matter recently, and, before committing itself, decided to get a report from the chief sanitary inspector on the subject. This report is now being prepared.—Ma.nchester Guardian.