In August, a state report on compulsory labeling of cats was presented. An issue that has been debated for many years.

The investigator proposes that labeling and registration of cats be included in the law on the supervision of dogs and cats. Dog tagging is already mandatory.

- All steps forward are positive. Today it can be impossible to locate an owner, and there is no one to punish, says Eva at Sundsvall's animal shelter.

County Administrative Board on the proposal

The County Administrative Board in Västernorrland welcomes the tightening of the law.

- It is high time, we have longed for this long. Now we can put someone in charge if the cat is registered with an owner, says county veterinarian Helén Löfblad.

County veterinarian Hélen Löfblad

She points out that another benefit is that the owner of a stray cat easily gets it back if it runs away.

Disagree about castration

So far they agree. However, the county veterinarian and the representatives of Sundsvalls and Öbacka animal shelters disagree on the requirements for castration.

- I think it is going a long way to legislate. I think that we get a marking and increased ownership responsibility, together with information that all cats must be taken care of, so we can do this, Helén Löfblad believes.

Reproduction unregulated in law

"I believe that my proposals, together with the Swedish National Board of Agriculture's proposal for regulations requiring that cat owners have control over their cats' reproduction, are necessary efforts to address the problem of homeless cats," writes the government's investigator Ulrika Geijer in his 147-page investigation.

In other words, the legal requirement only covers the labeling of cats. The issue of cats' reproduction does not appear to be included in a legislative text.

"You have completely lost control"

But at both Sundsvall's pigeonhole and Öbacka animal shelter, where you help homeless animals, you want to see legal requirements for castrating cats that are not used in registered breeding.

Kittens at Öbacka zoo Photo: Anna Beijron SVT

- You have completely lost control. We must catch up and take care of the animals that have no home and not just produce new ones, says Eva Vikman Årblom at Sundsvall's animal shelter.

Uncastered get lost

Lena Buhr at Öbacka Zoo also believes that regulation is necessary.

- There are a lot of kittens out there that are getting wild. What will happen to them? Uncastered male cats can run for several miles and there are many such that we get.