With a green, steely-eyed look and a well-worn face full of old scars, Mr. Nibbles, a long-time resident of Nanaimo's south-end community, says the animal control bylaw limits his freedom of movement and is a violation of his basic cat rights. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsMEOW Staff

freedom

Nanaimo cats furious over animal control bylaw harassment

Apr 1, 2025 | 12:00 AM

NANAIMO — Not all residents are adjusting well to changes made to the animal control bylaw.

After public consultations, and more than two years of being categorized as free-roaming criminals, local felines they’re putting their paws down.

Mr. Nibbles, or as he’s known in the streets, Nibz Iz Enuf, takes issue with the City of Nanaimo’s animal control bylaw, amended in the last few years to restrict cats from wandering in the streets, something Nibbles claims is his natural right.

“Meow meow meow, rwaaaaaar!”, said the clearly agitated Nibbles, standing guard outside his secondary summer home, located inside deep inside a bush along Old Victoria Rd.

The section of the bylaw which raises the hairs of so-called “free-roam cats” like Nibbles includes not allowing cats on private property without the owner’s permission and impounding animals who are “at large”, a term Nibbles said is degrading, insulting, and de-catanizing.

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He added it violates his universal kitty rights to freedom to roam, groom, and hunt literally any animal he can get his paws on.

“Meow meow meow, hissssssssss! Roaming is my right! As a feline, I can patrol any area I see fit. You want your city overrun with rats, mice, and pretty songbirds? It’s my right to capture my nightly quota of a quarter ration of rats per night. This is my livelihood we’re talking about here!”

Other areas of the bylaw which really burn his whiskers is the section on registering your cat and not leaving food out for strays, or as Nibbles calls them, “the boys”.

He calls the required sterilization (spaying or neutering) of all City-owned cats equal to “cruelty”, “torture”, and “denying the natural order of things.”

Nanaimo’s animal control bylaw was in September 2021 and outlines fines for pet owners who allow their animals to roam freely on private property without permission.

Editor’s Note: April Fools….obviously! Given the current state of the world, we felt we need to bring something outlandishly silly today and we hope this gave you a bit of a chuckle. You can read our other pieces we wrote here:

• NanaimoNewsNOW evolving local ‘mews’ coverage in Nanaimo & Oceanside
• New active transportation lanes have Nanaimo cats ‘feline’ good
• ‘Best paws in the game:’ Nanaimo cathlete wins triple gold at MICE

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