APRIL FOOL: New Guernsey cat tax could be extended to hamsters and budgies

EDIT: The following is an April Fool joke and is complete twaddle!

Politicians in Guernsey have announced plans to introduce a cat tax, and could go as far as charging for smaller pets as well.

The States say the £10 annual fee for felines will cover the costs of strays, and will be payable to a resident's parish.

With around 10,000 cats in the island, it's expected to raise up to £100,000 a year.

Some are even pushing to extend the fees to small pets, including budgies and hamsters, because the revenue generated "could be huge".

If approved, the plans could come into effect as early as May this year.

Guernsey's animal shelter is backing the plans, saying they run up big bills when dealing with lost cats.

GSPCA Manager, Steve Byrne, told ITV News he agrees with applying the tax to other animals, as they deal with so many strays including rabbits, horses and cows.