By Craig Butt and Holly Thompson
There has always been a debate about whether cats or dogs make better pets, but there is only one postcode in Perth where cats truly rule over dogs in terms of numbers.
The 6009 postcode, compromising of Nedlands, Dalkeith and Crawley, has 359 more feline friends than canine.
In all other suburbs, the number of dogs is often triple the number of cats registered through Central Animal Records, a national microchip database for pets.
In the 6156 postcode, which includes suburbs Attadale, Melville and Willagee, 6376 dogs were registered compared to just over 2000 cats.
However, inner-city suburbs such as Highgate, Perth, West Perth and Mount Hawthorn had a much more even split, with dogs only just taking the cake.
The domestic shorthair cat was by far the most popular with owners in Perth, with 50,658 registered.
This was followed by the domestic medium-hair, with 10,253, a significant drop in numbers, and the domestic longhair with 4576 registered.
After that, ragdolls were the most common, followed by Burmese and Siamese breeds. In total there are 84,681 cats registered across the state.
Central Animal Records managing partner Varun Uthappa said their database included around 50 per cent of all cats and dogs microchipped in WA.
It is the largest of its kind in Australia, having recently surpassed five million animals registered throughout the country.
“By reaching this milestone, we have demonstrated our ability to provide reliable and efficient pet and owner reunification services in Australia,” Uthappa said.
He said pet owners were reminded each year to check their pet’s details on the registry, which ensured the information remained up-to-date.
“It is important for people to get their pets microchipped and registered as it provides a reliable and permanent form of identification for the animals,” Uthappa said.
“Microchipping helps reunite lost pets with their owners, increasing the chances of pets returning home.
“Our national registry listing also ensures that owners can be contacted even if their pet is found across state borders.”
The Central Animal Records database does not include strays or dogs that have not been microchipped or registered.
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