Howrah resident says he is sick of destructive roaming cats and supports compulsory confinement

The state government’s cat management bill does not go far enough to protect residents and wildlife according to a man who is fed up with his neighbour’s cat damaging his property.

• Killer cats trapped and destroyed to protect wildlife
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A HOWRAH resident fed up with a neighbourhood cat damaging his property and keeping him awake says he is disappointed in the government’s new feline management bill.

Robin O’Byrne has lived at Howrah for 55 years, but has only recently experienced issues with his neighbour’s cat.

He said the ginger cat had defecated under his house, scratched his vehicles and broken two protective tarps worth $240.

“The cat gets in and sinks their claws in and rips it up,” he said. “I’ve got paw prints on the car.”

Paw prints on the cover of Robin O’Byrne’s ute. Picture: Supplied

Amendments passed in parliament this month for the Cat Management Amendment Bill 2019 include compulsory desexing and microchipping from four months old, a limit of four cats per household where breeders are exempt, improvements to help landholders control cats, replacing government registration for breeders with a permit system, and requiring cats to be microchipped and desexed before being reclaimed from a cat management facility.

Robin O’Byrne, of Howrah, is sick of his neighbour’s cat damaging his property. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett said the government encouraged confinement, but would not make it compulsory.

“Compulsory confinement requires the support of the broader community, including owners and local government,” he said.

“A focused education campaign is needed to increase awareness and understanding of responsible cat management principles and to highlight actions that owners can take.

“The Greens would penalise owners more than $3000 for putting their cat out, as well as burden owners with enclosure costs.”

He said the government had funded a responsible cat ownership campaign and launched the TassieCat website for owners.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett said the government encouraged confinement, but would not make it compulsory. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

But Mr O’Byrne said the bill did not protect him and the Howrah wildlife. He said the cat’s owner “went off” at him when he raised the problem. “If you’ve got any other animal, you’ve got to contain it to your property,” he said.

The ginger cat that has damaged Robin O’Byrne’s ute. Picture: Supplied

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said failing to enforce compulsory confinement went against “overwhelming submissions from experts”.

She said 82 per cent of stray and feral cats carried toxoplasmosis, which can harm the health of people.

“Instead of tackling the actual issue, Minister Barnett’s bill included a provision for any person to trap another person’s cat,” she said.

“All the responsibility for protecting property and wildlife is passed from the cat owner to neighbours, vets and cat shelters.”

Robin O'Byrne of Howrah has had his neighbours cat damage his ute. Picture: Zak Simmonds

READERS REACT:

Mercury readers have responded in droves to the plight of Howrah resident Robin O’Byrne and the destructive feral cats in his neighbourhood.

One only needs to go as far as a quick Wikipedia search for the suburb to find the cat issue runs deep, with the online encyclopaedia referencing the troublesome felines high on the page.

We asked our readers on social media for their thoughts on the issue.

Here is what you had to say:

“I have noticed a disproportionate number of cats (in Howrah) compared to many other areas I have previously lived. I often see a large Ginger Tom Cat on the foreshore trail on my evening walks,” Pat McMahon said.

“The new cat management amendments bill should have included mandatory confinement to the owner’s home. Lost opportunity to ensure responsible cat ownership and deal with wandering cats,” Hobart City Council Alderman Bill Harvey said.

“Confined cats are fine, every other cat needs to be dealt with and the owners too,” Alf Whitbread said.

“Don’t blame the cats get angry at the irresponsible owners who don’t de-sex and let their cats roam at night. I’m a responsible cat owner and even I get angry at the strays I get in my yard,” Kathy Boskell said.

“Risdon Vale is bad for the amount of cats we get roaming the streets and having to throw out expensive shoes let alone kids items is getting beyond a joke. There should be a law on roaming cats,” Melissa Xepapas said.

“For those who haven’t had constant animal destruction to your gardens, lawns and property really fail to appreciate the frustration. I’ve had the neighbours ‘Pet’ rabbits destroy new plants, established plants, dig holes in my lawns plus their chooks wreck all of veggie garden it’s really frustrating and costly,” Maryanne Saxton-hillier said.

“I’m in Howrah too and the neighbours cats regularly go hunting in the nearby bush, going through our garden for access,” Adela Taylor said.

“I don’t have animals, but I constantly get cats crapping in my yard, so much so I just had a new concrete slab poured which a cat walked over. Just about had enough and ready to take action into my own hands. My son can’t play on his swings because the cat craps anywhere there is dirt. Moved my garden sheds and laid down new soil, cats have already dug it up and crapped in it. I’ve had enough,” Jarrod Bart Beasley said.

Supplied photos of cats that have damaged the ute of Howrah resident Robin O'Byrne. Picture: Supplied

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