Rosemount cuts cat catching

Felines roaming the cold streets of Rosemount don't have to worry about outrunning the cat catcher anymore.

The City Council voted last week to no longer prohibit cats from wandering free, nor require them to be licensed -- overturning city regulations that have been in place since at least 1974.

The changes will save Rosemount money. The city recently has spent about $1,000 a month impounding cats.

Cats that were caught roaming free were supposed to be reclaimed by their owners, who would pay the fees for impounding and shelter at a local animal hospital, but it rarely happened like that. Instead, the city normally shouldered the costs.

While about 90 percent of dogs in Rosemount were claimed after they were impounded, it was the opposite for cats, with nearly 90 percent not being claimed, according to a city report.

From January of last year through this January, 66 cats had been impounded and left unclaimed by their owners, costing the city about $13,662 in fees. During the same period, 10 dogs were left unclaimed, costing the city $2,870, while 70 were reclaimed.

Fees for unclaimed cats account for about 85 percent of the fees paid by the city for animal care services in a year.

"That cost is directly paid by the city, and each cat is held for a specified number of days, and at $212 [per cat], it adds up rather quickly," said Rosemount Police Chief Gary Kalstabakken, whose department was responsible for picking up stray cats.

Cats that aren't claimed are put up for adoption. They aren't euthanized unless they have major health problems, said Kurt Hansen, the veterinarian who runs the Shamrock Animal Hospital where all of Rosemount's impounded dogs and cats are taken.

The city's cat licensing requirement, which was supposed to help identify cats caught wandering about, was mostly ignored.

From 2007 to 2009, only about 22 cats were licensed annually. In contrast, an average of 234 dogs were licensed per year. Kalstabakken estimated that there are nearly 6,000 cats in Rosemount.

Rosemount was one of three of Dakota County's 11 large cities to regulate cats. The others are Burnsville and Eagan.

"Most often cats that we pick up, they're not vaccinated, which is one of the main reasons for the licensing of all animals," said Peter Johnson, senior animal control officer for Burnsville.

"By licensing them we are able then to help regulate them."

Rosemount is not the only city to think about cutting animal control requirements to save money.

Earlier this year, the Golden Valley City Council considered getting rid of dog licensing, partly to cut down on staff time, but the move received pushback from residents who thought licensing was necessary. The city is still discussing what should be done.

Hansen said he thinks it was a bad idea to stop impounding cats.

"If the city is no longer picking up cats, they become a hassle for humans," Hansen said.

Stray cats can pose a health hazard because they can carry rabies and transfer toxoplasmosis -- an infection that can cause complications for pregnant women -- through their stool, Hansen said.

While the city will no longer respond to complaints of stray cats, it will give advice on deterring cats and referral numbers to local rescue organizations.

The city code will still include some rules about cats. There will be a limit of five dogs, cats and ferrets permitted at a residential property. Agricultural properties of 10 acres or more may have up to 10 cats as long as they are spayed or neutered.

The latest amendment may not be the only change to the city's animal code. During its last work session, the City Council also discussed changes in dangerous-dog regulations, such as requiring proof that the dog owner has insurance that specifically covers injuries or other claims resulting from the dog.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495