Northern suburbs residents outraged by wandering cats as bans loom

A review into SA’s cat laws will include asking whether owners should be forced to keep their pets on their properties - or be punished.

A statewide ban on cats leaving owners’ properties is looming as public consultation on a review of SA’s cat laws begins – and it couldn’t come soon enough for Elizabeth residents.

Wandering cats are a “massive problem” in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, locals say, who are demanding action from their local council.

Public consultation is starting early this year on toughening SA’s dog and cat laws – including the idea of forcing pet owners to keep cats on their properties.

It comes as Campbelltown Council introduced a new 24-hour ban on cats wandering from owners’ properties from January 1.

Playford Council ruled out joining the growing number of councils imposing cat curfews – but Elizabeth locals say nuisance cats are causing havoc in their streets.

In a recent post to a community Facebook page, Elizabeth Plains resident Arron Sharp said for the past five years his neighbourhood had been plagued by cats running free.

“This has become a matter that’s causing daily issues,” Mr Sharp wrote.

“Cats continue to come on to my property at all hours of the night and torment my dogs.

A wandering cat in Paralowie. Cats – both strays and pets – have been hopping fences, spraying homes, pooping in yards and being nuisances in Adelaide’s north.

“I have had to save multiple (cats) from being mauled in my yard … I have even had to protect a cat at the new Elizabeth Park dog park. How is that fair?”

Other people added their own experiences and shared their views on what some described as “massive problem”.

Shane Green wrote: “Cat laws are stupid, cats do whatever cats want to do … in my opinion all cats should be indoors and only be able to be let outside if the owner has a cat run cage.”

Olga Lewkowicz commented, “they can be a pest if they urinate all over the place, it stinks … if you own a pet be responsible.”

Some defended the animals such as Kim Edwards, who wrote, “just remember every cat that you consider an annoyance was let down by a human”.

“(The cat is) trying to get by because some incompetent human hasn’t done the right thing. Everyone is always quick to blame the animals.”

Another wandering cats in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

Some commenters called on Playford Council to step in regarding cat populations, especially those for pets allowed to roam freely at night.

Leash Weyland wrote, “it’s time to push council to enforce a curfew and actually hand out fines for it”.

Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty said the council was not considering a cat curfew.

“It is an expiable offence under the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act for cats to cause local nuisance, including wandering,” Mr Docherty said.

“Over the past three years, council has received approximately 100 nuisance cat complaints per year.”

Breaches of the Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act can result in fines of up to $500.

There is no current state law governing cats in regard to their confinement under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.

A 2022 review of the Act by the Dog and Cat Management Board did not recommend night curfews but public consultation on the idea of banning ‘wandering’ at large and a statewide approach to cat management.

The report further recommended consultation on policies such as registration and nuisance offences.

An Opposition spokesman said cat management in SA required a consistent approach rather than the current differing bylaws across individual councils.

They said many cat owners already kept their pets on their properties, in the same way dogs were.

“The government should prioritise responding to the recommendations of the review, so that the community and stakeholders such as councils, vets and animal shelters, have appropriate time to prepare for any changes to the current approach to cat management,” they said.

Climate, Environment and Water Minister Susan Close said statewide action was in the cards for this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire Morgan Sette

Environment Minister Susan Close said the review was tabled in parliament in February 2023 and public consultation would start early this year.

“The department and the board continue to consider options for improving cat management,” Ms Close said.

“I have instructed the Department for Environment to prepare draft amendments to the legislation to address a number of the recommendations made.

“Several councils have already determined to restrict the movement of cats, either by an overnight curfew or restriction to properties 24/7.”