Darwin council cat laws lead to rise in impoundments five months on

DARWIN’S quirky cat-leash laws, introduced last October, have kept domesticated felines out of trouble across Darwin’s suburbs – but they also mean more feral cats are facing their end.

A trapped feral cat ... the Darwin Animal Management Unit says the rise in impounded cats is due to an increase in feral cats being caught

• Darwin council votes to see cats kept on leashes
• Darwin council plan to stop nuisance barking and restrict pet numbers

DARWIN’S quirky cat-leash laws, introduced last October, have kept domesticated felines out of trouble across Darwin’s suburbs – but they also mean more feral cats are facing their end.

Under the cat containment policy launched in October last year, an “education-based approach” has seen the number of infringements for cats-at-large reduced to zero from 17 in the nine months prior to the policy’s introduction.

But the number of impounded cats has risen to 60.2 a month from October 2019 to February 2020 – almost two a day.

That is up from 46.5 per month from January 2019 to September 2019.

The Darwin Animal Management Unit said cats were only impounded if they couldn’t identify an owner or return the cat to its home.

OTHER TOP STORIES

Lyons outcome up in the air as vote lead changes hands

Gunner’s apology to disillusioned Johnston voters

Flooding from ex-Cyclone Esther traps 20 people in desert

Unclaimed cats are rehomed or killed after four days.

There were 90 cats impounded in January, 69 of which were euthanised, while 21 were friendly and healthy enough to be rehomed through PAWS, RSPCA or a Safe Place for Meow.

While microchipped cats were returned to their owners by council where possible, the number of impounded cats is putting stress on the system.

“Since the beginning of 2020 there has been several occasions where the (pound) has been at full capacity for cats,” a unit spokesman said.

The Darwin Animal Management Unit said the rise in impounded cats was due to an increase in feral cats being caught and owners not reclaiming their pets, not understanding their requirements as an owner or abandoning them altogether.

The spokesman said there had been a positive response from the community since the policy was introduced, encouraging people to microchip, register and desex their pets to ensure better health and community pet services.

AMAZING NT News subscription offer: Only $1 for first 28 days

Collection fees for impounded cats include $258 for unregistered cat release and $106 for registered release, while non-desexed and desexed cats can be registered for $121 and $11 respectively.