Cat curfew survey report to come before Geelong council

A report regarding cat curfews is set to come before Geelong council next month after residents were asked about 24-hour containment. HAVE YOUR SAY

City of Greater Geelong staff are compiling a report about cat curfews, set to come before council next month.

A City of Greater Geelong cat curfew review surveythat asked residents whether they supported 24-hour confinement received thousands of responses.

Currently, cats are required to be confined to their owner’s property between sunset and sunrise.

The Surf Coast Shire introduced a 24-hour cat curfew last year.

The City of Greater Geelong survey asked a number of questions including whether there were stray cats in the respondent’s area, whether the current curfew was working well, and if they supported 24-hour confinement.

The city’s acting executive director community service delivery Alistair Miller said its

team was finalising its report, which was expected to be listed on the council’s February meeting agenda for a decision.

“The report will take into account the outcomes of last year’s community survey, which generated 2352 responses,” he said.

Curfews can help protect wildlife, and prevent lost or injured cats and fights.

The Surf Coast Shire introduced a 24-hour cat curfew on September 30.

The curfew requires all cats within the municipality to be confined at all times to the owner’s premises unless the feline is appropriately restrained.

The shire said by confining registered cats in both urban and rural zones to their owner’s premises, the 24-hour curfew was likely to reduce cats’ impact on neighbours and their pets, and wildlife.

Previously, urban-zoned cats needed to be confined overnight.

This week, a Surf Coast Shire spokeswoman said 12 cats had been seized since the new curfew was introduced.

Four of those were not collected and/or feral.

She said the number of cats seized was on par with the previous curfew.

“Rangers can issue warnings to educate community members, while they can also issue penalties,” the spokeswoman said.

“A cat at large penalty is $92 on the first offence, increasing up to three penalty units for further offences (one penalty unit is $185).”

Two fines had been issued since the 24-hour curfew came into effect.

A survey in 2022 that asked for views on Surf Coast Shire cat rules received hundreds of responses.

Originally published as Cat curfew survey report to come before Geelong council