New trapping program allows people to catch roaming cats
People annoyed by cats roaming on their properties can trap them and turn them into the council under a new program on the Mornington Peninsula. Owners will face fines and hefty fees to get their pets back — but some say the measures still don’t go far enough.
South East
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Careless Peninsula cat owners are being targeted by a new program which allows the public to trap prowling pets.
Concerned locals can now order a cage to snatch roaming cats which will be held until the owner pays a release fee of $40 per day. They can also be fined $81 for allowing the cat off their property.
Wildlife carers say scores of native animals are being killed by predatory cats and claim the new Mornington Peninsula Shire Council measures announced to tackle the “horrific” problem do not go far enough.
Brenda Marmion, who runs Crystal Ocean Wildlife Shelter in Rye, said baby possums and birds were being mauled by roaming cats across the Peninsula.
Ms Marmion said she was dealing with such animals weekly and sometimes daily.
“It breaks my heart — (the native animals are) crying in agony,” Ms Marmion said.
“The cats lie in wait in the bushes and all of a sudden they leap and it is too late. It’s horrific.
“I love cats but they need to be confined.”
All cats in the municipality must be confined the owner’s property 24 hours a day under an order adopted by the council in 1997.
The new trapping program aims to allow residents to safely and humanely catch cats that have strayed. They are taken to the council’s animal shelter in Mornington.
Residents can request a cage be delivered and have a cat picked up within 24 hours of it being trapped.
But Ms Marmion said the council needed to be more proactive.
“The council needs to take a tougher line on cats straying on to properties,” she said.
“I don’t blame the cats — I blame the humans. The humans let them out wandering.”
Last year more than 70 animals found new homes through rescue groups and 130 others via the council’s adoption program.
Peninsula Cat Rescue president Joy Herring said while felines did roam they were often unfairly blamed for wildlife attacks, many of which were caused by birds and dogs.
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She said her group had rehomed about 6000 cats on the Peninsula since 2010 and the number found wandering had fallen during this period.
To organise a cat trap or report your pet as lost, phone 5950 1050.
For details about the council’s pet adoption program, visit mornpen.vic.gov.au/petadoption