The city's animal by-law of 2010 requires residents to register their pets within four months of their birth, or within 30 days of acquiring them, and to record their death.

JP Smith, a member of the mayoral safety and security committee in the Cape Town city council, said only 13500 residents had registered their pets since the process started in March.

Smith said the process would enable the city to determine its domestic animal population and registration was free.

"Pet owners applying timeously for more animals than they are permitted for their properties will qualify for automatic permission. Thereafter, they may be fined for their 'excess' animals and for pets without a chip, name tag or tattoo to identify them," said Smith.

"Owners of unregistered pets may be issued a compliance notice, followed by a fine of R300. Failure to comply will lead to unregistered animals being impounded."

The bylaw restricts the number of pets residents can keep and obliges owners to fit their pets with a collar bearing their names and phone numbers.

Smith said that the city was using animal welfare organisations in townships and informal settlements to help with registration.