Pune Sees Low Turnout in Pet Cat Registrations Despite PMC Push
Pune, 4th April 2025: Despite repeated appeals by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), only 217 pet cats have been registered over the past three years, in stark contrast to the 2,909 pet dog registrations during the same period, official data reveals.
The PMC’s veterinary department had introduced a dedicated registration system for pet cats in 2022-23 to bring feline ownership under formal regulation. However, the response from cat owners has remained lukewarm.
“In the first year, not a single cat registration was recorded,” said Dr. Sarika Funde, head of the PMC’s veterinary department. “We have been consistently encouraging citizens to register their pet cats, but awareness levels remain low compared to dog owners.”
The system, modeled after the dog licensing process, requires cat owners to provide vaccination records, address proof, and photographs of the pet. While the dog registration mandates annual renewals, the same was expected for cats. Registration numbers only picked up recently—with 104 cats registered in 2023-24 and 113 in the ongoing 2024-25 cycle.
To address the gap, the PMC has been promoting its online portal PMC Care, which not only facilitates pet registration but also provides information on sterilization and vaccination of stray animals. “We are using digital platforms to spread the message about the benefits of responsible pet ownership, including for cats,” added Dr. Funde.
The impact of low engagement is also being felt in sterilization efforts. Civic officials admit that unregistered cats are harder to account for and sterilize, which affects population control programs for strays.
