Knox Council to introduce 24 hour cat curfew from October

A tough new rule introduced by Knox Council will force cat owners to have more control over their felines, or risk a big penalty.

Knox Council will introduce a 24 hour cat curfew from October.

A Melbourne council has introduced a 24 hour cat curfew, making it illegal for pet owners to let feline’s stray from their property night or day.

Knox Council will impose the cat ban from October 1, with fines and possible court action for breaches.

The council, which takes in eastern suburbs such as Bayswater, Boronia, Ferntree Gully and Rowville, passed the rule change at a meeting on Monday night in a bid to protect wildlife and stop nuisance cats.

It puts the onus on owners to keep their cats inside or behind a fence at all times. The “cat confinement requirement’’ follows a pilot program that saw restrictions in place from sunset to sunrise.

Cat owners will be slapped with $91 fines for first time offences and up to $545 for second or subsequent infringements.

It’s inside only for Knox cats.

But a six month fine amnesty will occur once the law comes into effect, with warnings in place until the community is educated about the new rules.

Knox mayor Lisa Cooper said it came on the back of a survey showing 85 per cent of people surveyed supported a curfew.

“Much like the rules for dogs and other pets, cats won’t be allowed to roam freely from their owners’ property,’’ she said.

“When allowed to roam cats are at a much higher risk of illness and injury.

“Keeping cats within their owners’ property also protects wildlife and prevents them causing nuisance for neighbours and their pets.’’

A council report said “containment means preventing cats from roaming off their property’’.

“This can be achieved by keeping cats indoors, outdoors (within an enclosure, shed or other structure, cat run and/or by installing cat-proof fencing), or a combination of both,’’ it said.