Panel to Consider Registration of Cats

With more domesticated felines than anywhere else in Ventura County, Simi Valley may soon require cat owners to register their pets.

The resulting revenue would be used to offset the cost of the city’s contract with the county Department of Animal Regulation, which for the current fiscal year is budgeted at $412,800.

The county’s Animal Regulation Commission is scheduled to discuss cat registration at its meeting today.

Simi Valley Councilwoman Barbra Williamson, a commission member, worries that few catowners would be receptive to the idea.

“It’s a law that we’ll put on the books that we can’t enforce,” said Williamson, who owns a Himalayan Siamese named Frankline. “We have a tough enough time right now with dog licensing.”

Simi Valley has 11,045 dogs licensed and, based on a countywide survey, an estimated cat population of 14,157.

Kathy Jenks, director of the Department of Animal Regulation, said $159,800 of Simi Valley’s contract will come from revenues for services, such as the licensing of dogs.

Oxnard and Moorpark are the only Ventura County cities that require cat registration.

The Animal Regulation Commission is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. at the Department of Animal Regulation’s multipurpose room, 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo.