TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Starting next August cat owners must register their pets or face a maximum fine of NT$15,000 (US$460).
In response to the significant growth in the number of pet cats nationwide, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on Wednesday (Aug. 7) announced a revision to a regulation that previously required dogs to be registered as pets. It now stipulates that starting from Aug. 1, 2025, household cats must also be registered as pets.
Failure to register cats under the law could result in fines, but individuals who own cats will be given a one-year grace period.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2023 the number of pet dogs in Taiwan is estimated at 1,480,637, a 19% increase from 1,235,218 in 2021. The number of pet cats has grown more dramatically, with an estimated 1,311,449 cats, a 50% increase from 870,801 in 2021.
The ministry has amended the relevant regulations stipulating that pets require registration to include cats, except for certain breeders and sellers who must follow the rules for specific pet industries and implant microchips. The requirement for dog registration has been in place since 1999.
According to Article 31 of the Animal Protection Act (動保法), owners who fail to meet registration deadlines about the birth, acquisition, transfer, missing, or death of a pet within the time limit specified by compulsory registration regulation, and will face a fine of NT$3,000 to NT$15,000.
Regarding the registration process, the MOA explained that after acquiring a pet, owners can pre-register their pet online through the "Pet Registration Information System," then take the pet to a designated registration facility (such as an animal hospital) for rabies vaccination and microchip implantation. Once the pet registration is completed, owners will receive a pet registration certificate.
