Los Angeles could raise cat ownership limit

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A proposal to raise the limit on the number of cats that can be owned in Los Angeles homes aims to save thousands of cats euthanized in the city every year.

Los Angeles Animal Services says it took in more than 19,000 cats last year -- nearly half were put down.

Currently, the maximum number of cats that can be owned in a Los Angeles home is three. The proposal would raise that number to five.

"Fifty-five percent of our cats get out alive compared to 81 percent of the dogs. As you can see, there's a huge discrepancy," said Brenda Barnette with Los Angeles Animal Services. "We believe this is an opportunity to help us save lives by giving some great cats homes."

On Tuesday afternoon, Councilman Paul Koretz's committee on animal welfare met to talk about raising the limit. The proposal should go before the full city council in a couple of weeks, said Koretz, who's confident it will pass.

"The most likely group of people to adopt cats are people who already have cats. Rather than having them market first to people who don't have a history of adopting cats, this is an easy target," Koretz said.

Phyllis Daugherty opposes raising the limit for fears of hoarding.

"Once you've legitimized it, you've licensed it by the city, how do you go in and stop somebody from hoarding?" Daugherty said.

Christi Metropole with the Stray Cat Alliance called the hoarding fears "ridiculous."

"Hoarders are sick people who will hoard anyway. This isn't going to do anything to stop that. This is going to help good citizens of Los Angeles have more animals, save more animals," Metropole said.

If approved by the entire city council, the city attorney will still likely need a few months to draw up the proper paperwork to raise the limit.