The cat came back Tuesday to find it will soon need a licence.

Following years of debate, Halifax regional council passed an animal control bylaw requiring cat owners to license their pets starting next spring.

Like Fido, Fluffy will need a licence if she wants to live in Halifax Regional Municipality.
(Terra Tailleur/CBC)

As of April 1, cat owners will have to pay $10 to $30, depending on whether the animal is fixed. The licensing fees are the same as for dogs.

The bylaw, which passed 11-9, also gives animal control officers the power to trap and euthanize cats in some cases.

Coun. Jim Smith, who is championing the new rules, disagrees with critics who say they will be too challenging and expensive to enforce.

"I believe that enforcement is ready. This is going to be self-enforced, people are going to support the bylaw and I support it as well," Smith said.

The bylaw is estimated to cost about $3.3 million, including the price of a new shelter.

Coun. Sue Uteck put forward a proposal to allow her Halifax district and a few others to opt out of the bylaw, but the motion failed.

The issue has opened up council to public mockery, she said.

"There are so many more issues to me … that are much more relevant here [than] the big issue on whether we're going to register cats or not," said Uteck, who voted against the bylaw.

Many councillors are hoping Tuesday's decision finally ends years of debate on how to control roaming cats.