According to this article Belgium are to bring in new rules that will make it compulsory for cat owners to have their pets sterilised and registered by 2016. The Belgium government is bringing in the measures to deal with the countries 1.7 million feline population. Last year around 13,000 cats were killed in animal refuges in the country and it is thought there are 37,000 strays. If it is passed into law the programme will begin with the sterilisation of all cats in rescue centres. The country will then embark on a phased neutering of all cats except exotic pedigrees from the start of next year. All cats owners would need to have their pets sterilised and registered with only breeders of Siamese, Abyssinian and other special pedigrees being exempt. It will be interesting to see how successful this is and whether it cuts down on the number of unwanted kittens.
