Councils call for cat curfews, mandatory desexing and feral cats euthanasia

Cats owners who let their kitties roam free could soon be fined under proposed changes to the Companion Animal Act.

Cat owners could soon be forced to lock up their kitties permanently, or face fines if their pets escape their home, with 15 NSW councils signalling their support for proposed changes to feline management laws.

The councils have made submissions to a NSW parliamentary inquiry into cat population management which is examining whether current containment policies for pets, desexing programs and pound resourcing are effective in controlling breeding among feral cats and their toll on local wildlife.

Blacktown City Council wants the power to enact 24/7 cat curfews, as well as additional resources and funding to enforce rules.

“We also recommend providing funding to councils to give owners access to construct cat containment,” the Council’s submission reads.

Lake Macquarie Council has pushed for cat curfews and desexing programs in its submission, while Narrabri council has advocated for the power to euthanise feral cats.

A pair of British shorthair kittens, whose Sydney owners make sure are responsibly managed. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Companion Animal Act under review currently prevents councils from implementing cat containments and curfews.

In submissions to the population management inquiry, the councils wrote that by amending the act it would allow them greater control over local cats, including implementing stronger containment measures like curfews, fines or indoor requirements.

Among the NSW councils to have signalled they will make changes to their cat ownership regulations if the act amendments are ratified are Northern Beaches, Willoughby City, Blacktown City and Shoalhaven City.

Blacktown City Council said it strongly supported the review and intended to tighten rules if the act was amended.

“Council’s Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre is ­inundated with cats and kittens all year round,” a council spokesperson said. “We need to address the problem of cats breeding uncontrollably and filling up our shelters

“Council is asking for the Companion Animals Act to be updated to prevent cats from being allowed to roam outside their owner’s property.

“We want to be on the right side of history to preserve Australia’s wildlife and improve the welfare of all animals.”

Invasive Species Council Advocacy Director Jack Gough said a “culture shift” needed to occur around how cats were treated.

“Cats are out killing millions of our native wildlife every day,” Mr Gough said.

“An amendment to the act would allow all councils to bring in and enforce cat containment laws and require all cats to be desexed by four months of age.

“This needs to be accompanied with support to enforce these changes.

“People want action, councils want action. Right now there are no rules about cat containment, it’s a free for all, cats can roam and no one can do anything about it.”

He said changes to the Companion Animal Act would be a “major success”, and cats who were kept indoors lived about 10 years longer than those allowed to roam outside.

“(These changes to the act would be) a win-win for wildlife and pet owners.”

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Originally published as Councils call for cat curfews, mandatory desexing and feral cats euthanasia