Maroondah: Cat lovers fear 24-hour curfew as council reviews animal policy

An outer east council got cat owners fired up when it introduced a curfew — and feline fanciers in a neighbouring council fear they could be next.

Maroondah Council is reviewing its animal management policy. Picture: Bev Lacey.

Cat lovers fear another outer east council could follow its neighbour’s controversial move to put a 24-hour ban on felines venturing outdoors.

But Maroondah Council won’t say if it is considering a 24-hour cat curfew is as it looks to update its animal management policy.

The council has been gathering feedback for the policy, which it updates every four years, and will close community consultation on Sunday.

A draft will then be presented to councillors later this year.

Knox Council last month passed a 24-hour cat curfew from October 1 in a bid to protect wildlife and stop nuisance cats.

Under the curfew, owners will be required to keep their feline friends inside or behind a fence at all times, with fines to be enforced from April 2022.

If caught, they will be fined $91, or up to $545 for repeat offences.

Maroondah Mayor Kylie Spears said the council was seeking feedback from pet owners and non-pet owners “on a range of animal-related matters” as part of its review.

Specific questions on whether a 24-hour curfew for cats was being considered were not answered by the council.

Residents had their say on Maroondah Leader’s Facebook page with Yolande Lennox saying it would be “cruel” for the council to follow Knox’s example.

Vicky Mack said it was “a bit far fetched for during the day”.

“Cats need the fresh air, sunlight and to be able to scratch a tree trunk,” she said.

Bernadette Jacks said a curfew at night was enough.

“It’s called the way of the wild and animals are not meant to be locked up all the time,” she said.

But others disagreed, with Annette Forsyth saying “outer eastern LGAs need to seriously think about putting this in place”.

“My cat has always been an inside cat … so I think cats can live quite well inside 24/7 or put up a cat run.”

Kim Sinton wrote: “Let’s hope Maroondah follows and does the same! So fed up with other people’s cats in my yard!”

More than 2200 people have signed a petition for Knox to make changes to its curfew rules after it was launched last week.

The RSPCA has been contacted for comment.