LUCKNOW, Aug. 24 -- For the first time, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has decided to impose a license fee on pet cats and fine owners who fail to register them. The civic body cleared the proposal in its executive committee meeting on Saturday. LMC animal welfare officer Abhinav Verma said cat owners will have to pay Rs 500 as a license fee, while those keeping cats without a license will face a fine of Rs 1,000. "Licensing will ensure rabies vaccination for pet cats. Once the proposal gets the final nod, inspections will be carried out and cat owners will be urged to register their pets," Verma said. Officials pointed out that cat bites can also spread rabies, similar to dog bites. The initiative supports the World Health Organisation's goal of eliminating rabies globally by 2030. Currently, the LMC (Licensing, Control and Regulation of Dogs) Bye-law 2003 covers only dogs. In another proposal placed before the executive committee, the LMC suggested renaming the cattle catching department as the animal welfare department, stating that the current name does not reflect its full scope of work. Officials said the term cattle catching carries a colonial undertone and does not align with Indian cultural values, where cows are revered....