Randwick Council plans to lock up cats and issue fines
CATS provide friendship to millions. But one Sydney council has had enough of their freewheeling feline ways. Councillors want to ban cats venturing outside and issue fines for them defecating in public.
Southern Courier
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CATS were first domesticated more than 4,000 years ago and for millions around the world they are a source of friendship, relaxation and pleasure.
But one Sydney council has had enough of their freewheeling feline ways.
On Tuesday night last week, Randwick Council voted to work towards a ban on cats venturing outside and fines for any kitty that dares to defecate outside its litter tray.
Labor councillor Kathy Neilson, who was elected Randwick Mayor on Wednesday night last week, introduced the motion.
She called on the creation of a committee to look at keeping cats confined to indoors (especially at night) as well as fines for cats that “run free or defecate in public places of neighbouring properties”.
She also proposed higher registration fees for cat owners.
She said the measures were to help protect the area’s native habitat and fauna.
Cr Philipa Veitch, Greens, backed the motion, describing it as “tremendous”.
“There are a lot of issues impacting on our native plants and animals,” she said.
“They are really under threat … there has been a decline in birds in our area.”
She added: “A number of people have also got in contact with me about cats.”
But Cr Harry Stavrinos, Liberal Party, described the proposal as “nothing short of ridiculous” and questioned how it could be policed.
“Good luck chasing after a cat that defecates in your backyard,” he said. “We’re going to have rangers chasing after crap are we? Is that what we’re going to be doing?”
Cr Stavrinos, a cat owner of 25 years, said he was offended that the proposal compared domesticated and feral cats.
“My parents have a cat … and it goes in and out with a bell around the cat’s neck,” he said.
“I can tell you my parents are responsible pet owners as are many other people. You can’t police keeping a cat indoors … how are we going to have rangers tracking down the movement of a cat?”
He also said he strongly opposed the idea of charging higher registration fees for cat owners.
“I’m not going to penalise people by increasing the registration fees for owning a cat that provides them with therapy, that provides them with love and affection and relaxation,” he said.
“We are already over governed as it is and now we want to govern even more by putting in place rules and laws that can’t even be enforced.”
Cr Carlos Da Rocha, who also works as a council ranger, backed the motion and told Cr Stavrinos he does chase after cats.
“ I do jump fences,” he said.” Cats go inside people’s windows, cats go in the back door of people’s homes. Cats make dogs bark staring at dogs from the top of the fences”
He said rules needed to be introduced to protect local wildlife. “You used to see blue tongue lizards everywhere,” he said.
He described the motion as pretty fair, adding: “They should be fined, maybe not as much as a dog, but they should be fined because they cause more damage to people’s gardens.”
The motion also called for a study of the “state of play” of native fauna and promoting education to protect native plants and animals.
The motion was narrowly passed with Cr Kathy Neilson, Cr Philipa Veitch, Cr Dylan Parker, Cr Murray Matson, Cr Danny Said, Cr Noel De Souza and Cr Lindsay Shurey voting in favour.
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