Cat curfew coming to Knox

MARAUDING cats will have to be kept indoors under a curfew being rolled out in Knox, but one wildlife carer says it won’t be enforced.

A cat curfew is coming to Knox and the council wants people to have their say.

MARAUDING cats will have to be kept indoors under a curfew being rolled out in Knox — but the council wants your say on how long cats should be allowed out for.

Knox Council has proposed introducing the curfew in 2019 and is looking at cats being kept indoors between sunrise and sunset.

It follows a council report that found 85 per cent of 780 people surveyed wanted a curfew.

The curfew, which has been a source of debate in Knox for several years, was included in the council’s updated Domestic Animal Management plan, passed by councillors on October 23.

Knox Mayor Darren Pearce said the survey showed a “clear level of support” for a curfew.

He said when cats were left to roam unchecked “their natural instincts as predators do untold damage to our native wildlife, and that’s not something we can continue to accept”.

Wildlife carer Carla Penn sas a cat curfew wouldn’t be enforced. Picture: Mark Wilson

Carla Penn, who runs Bayswater wildlife shelter Warriors 4 Wildlife, backed the council’s move for a curfew.

But she said it wouldn’t be enforced.

“The issue is there are already so many councils that have a 24-hour curfew and there’s no one really enforcing it,” she said.

Ms Penn said cats can kill up to 30 animals a night, hunting native mice, rats, introduced pests, lizards, skinks, baby possums, birds and snakes.

“A lot of people think ‘my cat’s just out there sleeping’ but you’d be surprised how much they get up to.”

Knox is home to 6266 registered cats, according to 2016-17 council figures.

Ms Penn said each cat owner had a responsibility to ensure their pets were secured.

To comment on the cat curfew go to knox.vic.gov.au/damplan or phone [phone].