HSINCHU (TVBS News) — Starting August 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA, 農業部) will require pet owners to register their cats, aiming to strengthen the management of pets from their source. Owners who fail to register their cats will face fines ranging from NT$3,000 to NT$15,000.
The number of cats and dogs in Taiwan continues to rise. The Hsinchu County Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office (新竹動保所) urged owners to promptly bring their cats to the office or an authorized registration station, implant a microchip, and complete the registration process.
The Hsinchu office noted that the registration system acts as an ID card for cats, and this measure would effectively reduce the risks cats face while roaming and increase the chances of recovering lost pets.
Hsinchu County residents who register their cats at the animal protection office will pay NT$450 for already neutered cats, covering the microchip cost, implantation, and processing fees. Non-neutered cats will incur an additional NT$100 registration fee, totaling NT$550.
The MOA's latest phone survey found that the number of domestic dogs in 2023 has surpassed 1.48 million, nearly a 20% increase from 2021. The number of domestic cats has surged by 50%.
