Greens Councillor Dr Olivia Ball has called for a ban on roaming cats in Melbourne’s CBD

A City of Melbourne councillor wants to see cats confined to their owners’ homes “at all times” to prevent them from killing wildlife or being run over by cars.

Dr Olivia Ball wants cat owners to be forced to contain their cats indoors at all times to protect the environment. Picture: David Crosling

A Greens Councillor at Town Hall has proposed banning cats from being allowed to roam around the City of Melbourne.

Councillor Dr Olivia Ball has put up a motion for debate to task council bureaucrats with creating a plan to contain cats in their owners’ homes “at all times, with reasonable exceptions” or to prohibit cats from “environmentally sensitive areas.”

The proposed ban would help ensure prevent cats from being run over and reducing the number of native wildlife felines kill throughout the city.

Dr Ball has argued that cats are “highly efficient predators” that are damaging biodiversity.

It could also include “education and evidence-based behaviour change initiatives” for cat owners to encourage them to keep their kitties locked in.

“Contained cats live safer, healthier and significantly longer lives,” Dr Ball said.

“Containment benefits cats by protecting them from injury and disease caused by fighting between cats, from dog attacks, snake bite, poisoning, road accident trauma or other misadventure, and from getting lost or irretrievably separated from their owner.”

Dr Ball said cats were “highly efficient predators” that were doing damage to biodiversity within the City of Melbourne.

“Cat containment is important in urban environments, where we have sensitive parklands like Royal Park to protect,” Dr Ball said.

The proposed cat ban would be consistent with the City of Melbourne previously declaring a biodiversity emergency within the municipality.

Dr Ball said a 24-hour containment policy would be superior to a night-time curfew.

“Pets die on roads during the day, just as they do at night; and cats kill wildlife in the daytime, just as they do at night,” Dr Ball said.

Knox City Council introduced a 24-hour ban for roaming cats, with many residents forced to pay up for cat runs and upgraded fences to prevent the felines from escaping from the property.

Similar measures – including balcony netting for apartment residents – would likely be needed for cat owners within the City of Melbourne.

Councillors will vote on the potential cat ban at Town Hall’s meeting on Tuesday.

If approved, council bureaucrats would need to prepare a plan on the cat ban back to councillors for consideration by March next year.

Originally published as Greens Councillor Dr Olivia Ball has called for a ban on roaming cats in Melbourne’s CBD