The Keeping and Welfare of Cats Local Law 2008 is expected to come into force in about four months with a restriction on the number of cats that can be kept in a house.

Cats will also have to be compulsorily sterilised, identified and registered.

Council voted unanimously to pass the law on Tuesday night despite more than 80 per cent of public submissions opposing the move.

It will now go before the Minister for Local Government then a 44-day final public submission period before being given final approval.

Cr Kim Stanton said the local law was not an anti-cat policy, but there was a need to promote responsible cat ownership because of the threat to native wildlife.

She said it was an important subject that had been put to Council for years.

Cr Stanton said Council had to source funding for subsidised cat sterilisation and micro-chipping to help people on low incomes.

Cr Jill Bostock said a local law was not needed, as there was no evidence of a cat problem in Albany.

She said there was a perception of a problem, but no facts.

Cr Bostock said the cat law debate had brought out the worst in people and there was a need to encourage harmony in the community.

Jill Williams of Lowlands said feral cats were dangerous predators and the law aimed to stop their introduction into the bush.

She said there was also a need to stop domestic cats roaming, as they killed wildlife and defecated on other people’s property.