Everything you need to know about cat registration in SA

All cats who are more than 12 weeks old must be microchipped and then registered on the state's Dogs and Cats Online database.

Owners are responsible for registering their cats and keeping their details up-to-date. If your cat goes to a new home, you must then transfer the registration to the new owner.

Why register your cats?

If your cat is registered on the database, you will receive reminder notices to login and check your details. It is important to update your details if you:

• Move house
• Change phone numbers
• Your cat goes to a temporary or new home

This means if your cat goes missing and is found and scanned by council officers, vets or animal shelters, they can locate you through the database and return your cat to you quickly.

How to register your cat

You register your cat by its microchip number which your breeder, shelter, vet, microchip implanter or previous owner would have given you.

Registration through the Dogs and Cats Online database is easy and convenient, but if you need some help, check out the How to register a dog or cat as a new owner guide.

If your cat's microchip has not been added to Dogs and Cats Online already, you will need an electronic copy of the microchip certificate to complete the registration. You can take a photo of a paper record, or ask your vet to email you a verification.

Unlike dogs, cats are not issued a ‘cat registration number’, so make sure your cat is identifiable with a collar and disc with your contact details.

Transferring a registration

If your cat goes to a new home, you must transfer the microchip registration to the new owner via Dogs and Cats Online. You’ll receive a transfer code to give to the new owner.

The new owner will need to login to Dogs and Cats Online to complete the transfer using the code. The How to transfer a registered dog or a cat to a new owner guide has more information.

Registration fees

While all councils charge for dog registration in South Australia, only some have cat registration fees.

Here are the councils who currently charge for cat registration:

Cat owners in these council areas will receive annual renewal notices at the start of July, with fees due by 31 August. Councils may offer a discount if your cat is microchipped and desexed.

Each council may also have by-laws relating to cat containment, curfews or limits on how many cats you can keep on your property. Contact your local council for more information.

Check out the Dog and Cat Management Board website to learn more about cat registration.

For more information on cat microchipping, take a look at our Good Living blog post Why you need to microchip your cat in SA.