Cat ownership

Reducing the number of stray cats

In order to reduce the number of stray cats, owners of cats are required to permanently microchip their cats. The microchip is a small chip holding a 15-digit number that is placed under the skin by a veterinarian in the cat's withers. The Department of Environment & Planning keeps a register of microchipped cats. Information on the microchip number and the name of the owner must be submitted to the Department using this page or by calling 411 1111. It is also necessary to mark the collar of cats with the owner’s address and phone number so that any resident can return lost cats to their owners.

Health

For the prevention of human infections caused by tapeworms in cats, all cats should be worm-cleaned annually from the age of 4 months.

In harmony with the environment

Keeping cats should not cause noise, disturbance, dirtiness, or unhealthiness. If a cat disturbs neighbors or causes dirtiness or damage the owner or custodian should prevent this. To minimize the harm cats can cause to bird life in Reykjavik, owners are required to hang a bell on cats during nesting season or, where appropriate, to limit the time cats spend outdoors.

Tomcats mark their territory with odorous urine, which often causes discomfort and is unclean. To counter the excessive increase in the number of cats in Reykjavik, increase cleanliness and reduce discomfort caused by tomcats, owners are now required to have their cats castrated after they reach the age of six months if they are left free to run around outdoors. Owners who share a common entrance, stairwell or other common areas must give consent for keeping cats in multi-owner buildings.

• Act on Multi-Owner Buildings No. 26/1994
• Resolution on cat ownership in Reykjavík