West Dundee to consider licensing regulations for cats

West Dundee soon could require pet owners to license their cats with the village in response to a new state law.

Trustees this week directed staff members to draft an ordinance to implement local licensing regulations for felines, similar to the village's existing provisions for dogs, Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said.

The proposal aims to ensure residents are complying with a recent amendment to the state's Animal Control Act that requires cat owners to have their "companion animals" inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.

Senate Bill 131 applies to domestic felines that are at least 4 months old, though feral cats also should be vaccinated if taken to a vet. The legislation was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in August and took effect Jan. 1.

West Dundee had a similar ordinance in place for about 10 years starting in 1994, Cavallaro said, but it was eventually removed from the books because the regulations weren't backed by state law.

The village maintained its certification requirements for dogs, comparing its list annually with Kane County records to ensure rabies vaccinations have been completed.

In light of the new legislation, Cavallaro said, village officials raised the question of whether they should reinstitute the licensing provision for cats, too.

"For the same reason you license dogs to ensure rabies vaccinations, because of this (new state) requirement, the same rationale would apply," he said.

Implementing such a measure also would help enforce West Dundee's limit of three dogs or cats per household, Cavallaro said.

According to village code, dogs over 4 months old must have proof of a valid rabies inoculation and be licensed by West Dundee within 30 days of moving into town. Owners can purchase one-year licensing tags for $10 or three-year tags for $20.

Adopting similar provisions for cats would require an update to West Dundee's animal control regulations. Officials are expected to confer with the village's attorney before bringing a proposal back to the village board in February or March, Cavallaro said.