Thirty caught, hundreds to go in West Coast town as new Cat Management rules come into place
Tasmanians can only keep a limited number of pet cats under new laws that also allow trapping on private property, and farmers to euthanise feral cats on their land. See all the changes + the rules >>
TASMANIA’S new cat management laws have come into effect as one council lays traps to rid feral and stray cats from a main shopping area
Under changes to the Cat Management Act 2009, Tasmanians will be allowed to trap a cat on their private property and cats held in care cannot be released to new homes unless microchipped and desexed.
Feral felines have taken over central Queenstown and the cat catches have moved in now the West Coast Council has declared it a formal Cat Management Area.
Mayor Phil Vickers said up to 30 cats had already been caught and euthanised but there were hundreds more living and breeding in the area.
A commenter on the council’s Facebook page said she had witnessed another litter of kittens being dumped in the area recently.
The Central Coast Council has also laid traps to thin out the feral cat population near little penguin colonies under its watch.
The state government's new laws represent Tasmania’s first comprehensive plan to address the management of domestic, stray and feral cats.
Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said the amendments were the result of extensive consultation with industry, local government, animal welfare groups, environmental and agriculture stakeholders.
From today, Tasmanians can trap a cat on their private property as long as it is checked at least once within 24 hours of it being set and a trapped animal is either returned to its owner; or taken to a cat management facility within a day of being caught.
“Arrangements should be made with cat management facilities before setting a trap,” the new rules stipulate.
Primary producers will also be able to euthanise a cat on primary production land and production premises.
If they take lethal cat management action they will need to comply with other relevant legislation, such as the Animal Welfare Act 1993 and the Firearms Act 1996.
Further changes will be rolled out over the next year and from March 2022, all cats over the over the age of four months must be microchipped and desexed.
Tasmanians must not keep more than four cats, over the age of four months, on their property without a multiple cat permit and the government ill no longer be registering cat breeders.
“The amendments are good news for Tasmania, balancing strengthened cat management laws with community education and awareness around responsible cat ownership and management,” Mr Barnett said.
For more information see DPIPWE’s website or visit the TassieCat website.
Originally published as Thirty caught, hundreds to go in West Coast town as new Cat Management rules come into place
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