Controlling outdoor cats
A $30,000 project to look at rules for cats that roam outdoors. On July 23, 2025, Council moved it from 2028 to 2029.
- Amount
- $30,000
- Got
- $0
- Where it stands
- To 2029. Moved by the Eaglecrest funding plan, Jul 2025.
What it is
This project would look at ways to control cats that roam outdoors. Town staff described options in 2023. They included licensing and microchip checks, fines, a way for residents to report problem cats, and taking in cats found roaming without ID. They also included education and work with animal welfare groups.
The $30,000 would pay for public education, training, policy work, legal review and materials. Staff also said enforcing new rules would need one more full-time bylaw officer.
The item was planned for 2028. On July 23, 2025, Council moved it to 2029 as part of the Eaglecrest funding plan. The resolution says each deferred item waits one year, or until the Strategic Initiatives Reserve is paid back from future land sales.
What happened
- November 10, 2023Staff presented the idea at strategic planning. They did not recommend going ahead at that time. If Council went ahead, they suggested 2028.
- July 23, 2025Council moved the $30,000 from 2028 to 2029 (4–1, Councillor Harrison opposed).
- April 1, 2026The 2026–2030 Financial Plan shows $30,000 in 2029.
Why it matters
- In 2023, staff called the idea "cost prohibitive while complaints regarding roaming cats are relatively low in number."
- Staff said controlling roaming cats would take about as much staff and money as the Town's dog licensing system.
- Staff said the extra bylaw officer would be a significant yearly cost, paid for by higher property taxes.
- The records do not say who proposed this item.
- Staff said the Qualicum Commons lease and the Eaglecrest purchase were not in their work plans for 2025 or 2026, so other planned work had to move.
- The 2026–2030 Financial Plan says Council's ability to go ahead with 2027 and later initiatives depends on paying back the Strategic Initiatives Reserve.
Sources
- Special Council agenda and deferral lists, Jul 23, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Staff report: 2025–2029 Financial Plan Amendment, Oct 22, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Committee of the Whole agenda, Nov 10, 2023 (scoping sheet) (opens in a new tab) pp. 30–31
- Special Council minutes, Jul 23, 2025 (Resolution 25-180) (opens in a new tab) pp. 2–3
- 2025–2029 Financial Plan (opens in a new tab) p. 21
- 2026–2030 Financial Plan (adopted Apr 1, 2026) (opens in a new tab) pp. 20–21
Last checked September 18, 2026. Report a mistake.