Your Neighbour’s Cat Defecating In Your Home? Understand Your Rights, Actions, And Complaint Channels

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Your Neighbour’s Cat Defecating in Your Home? Understand Your Rights, Actions, and Complaint Channels

By: Muhammad Zafarul Adib Zaidi | zafarul@upm.edu.my

SERDANG, 2 March – The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FPV), in collaboration with the Centre for Waqf, Zakat and Endowment (WAZAN), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), organized the Webinar Kebajikan Haiwan@VET, UPM Siri 3/2026 titled “Kucing Jiran Berak di Rumah Anda: Apa Anda Boleh Buat?” on 31 March 2026. This webinar is part of an ongoing community education initiative that emphasizes legal awareness and prudent approaches in addressing neighbourhood conflicts involving pets.

The program aimed to provide guidance to the public on the proper channels for managing animal nuisance issues, particularly those involving pet and stray cats. Participants were introduced to the definition of “nuisance,” which includes disturbances such as foul odours, uncleanliness, and discomfort to neighbours, while also gaining an understanding of legal provisions under the Local Government Act 1976 as well as local authority by-laws.

The sharing session was delivered by Pn. Farah Shahana Ramli, Senior Assistant Director at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, and Dr. Siti Suhailah Mohd Maarof, Veterinary Officer at the Subang Jaya City Council. The program was moderated by Dr. Syamira Syazuana Zaini, Senior Lecturer at FPV UPM. The discussion highlighted that such issues often stem from uncontrolled stray cats, irresponsible pet owners who allow their cats to roam freely, and unmanaged feeding practices.

The session also explained that the approach to resolving such issues depends on whether the cat has an owner. If the cat is owned, initial actions involve advising and guiding the owner, followed by enforcement if the disturbance persists. For stray cats, the public is encouraged to lodge formal complaints with the local authorities to enable proper investigation and action in accordance with established procedures.

The webinar further emphasized that individuals must not take matters into their own hands, such as injuring, poisoning, or disposing of animals, as such actions constitute legal offenses. It is hoped that this program will enhance public awareness on responsible pet ownership and strengthen collaboration between communities and authorities in ensuring a balance between animal welfare, public health, and neighbourhood harmony.