Owning a cat in Lucknow now requires a formal licence from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC). Under the new mandate, cat owners must register their pets for an annual fee of ₹500. The primary goal is to ensure all felines in the city are vaccinated against rabies, placing full responsibility on the owner.

To obtain the licence, owners must provide their Aadhaar card and the cat's vaccination certificate. The process is currently offline, requiring a visit to the Animal Welfare Officer's office at Bhopal House between 10 AM and 5 PM on working days. Failure to comply will result in a ₹1,000 fine and potential legal action.

The move extends a similar rule for dogs launched just a month ago, aiming to bring all household pets under municipal monitoring. Interestingly, the licence is also available for people caring for street cats, provided they show proof of vaccination and their Aadhaar card.

With this step, Lucknow joins other major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai that have already implemented cat licensing to promote responsible ownership and public safety.