Hundreds fined for breaching Yarra Ranges’ cat curfew

CAT owners in Melbourne’s outer east are feline the pinch, with Yarra Ranges Council dishing out more than 250 cat curfew fines.

Generic shot of a cat hissing. angry / meowing

CAT owners’ wallets are feline the pinch, with Yarra Ranges Council dishing out more than 250 fines since the cat curfew came into force.

Yarra Ranges Council introduced the cat curfew in October 2014 despite more than 2500 people signing an online petition in opposition.

RELATED: Residents feel caged in by new cat curfew

Wandering cats can now set their owners back $76 for being “at large” or not being securely confined to their owner’s residence.

Kilsyth mother Sarah Torney was fined when her cat George wandered from home in December. She said on top of the curfew fine she had to pay $150 to get her cat out of the pound and more than $300 because she had not renewed her cat’s registration.

Kilsyth resident Sarah Torney received these fines from Yarra Ranges Council after her cat wandered away from home.

She said she accepted being fined for forgetting registration but said she was totally against the cat curfew.

“Someone had detained the cat at their property and called council who came and took him to the pound,” Ms Torney said.

“I understand cats can be a danger to wildlife but I live in Kilsyth and I am surrounded by shops and factories — it’s not like I’m in the middle of the bush.

“To get two fines, for the cat being out and to get it from the pound I think is ridiculous.”

Ms Torney said her cat did not cope well being enclosed and had been misbehaving since it had been confined to her Garden St residence.

Yarra Ranges Council director of corporate services Troy Edwards said the curfew was established in response to community concerns around wandering cats.

“In the lead-up to the introduction of the cat curfew, the council had a six-month education period during which the curfew was not enforced and residents could learn about how the curfew would be enforced and regulated,” Mr Edwards said.

“The cat curfew promotes responsible pet ownership while reducing nuisance and wandering cats.”