Is your furry companion at risk as new council rules threaten big changes for pet owners
- Replies 0
If you are a cat owner, watch the latest council debates closely, as rules on feline companions are tightening and could soon affect your household.
Across Australia, local councils are cracking down on cat ownership to address the growing problem of stray and feral cats.
The latest battleground is a regional shire where a proposed bylaw could limit households to just two cats—a tough pill to swallow for those who have opened their homes and hearts to more than a couple of moggies.
The move comes as Wagin faces a feline explosion. Over the past three years, the shire has sent more than 300 unwanted cats to a Perth animal shelter, an exhausting 230km away.
The sheer number of strays is overwhelming local resources, and the council says something has to give.
Michelle Muller and Larry Stanbridge, who run the Wagin Cat Rescue, have seen the problem up close.
They say the root cause is a lack of responsible ownership: too many cats aren’t sterilised, microchipped, or even registered.
'Not having your cat sterilised is the biggest issue, because they just continue to breed,' Michelle said.
The pair have even encountered a home with a staggering 40 cats under one roof!
Wagin Shire Council President Phillip Blight says the crisis is draining council resources.
'There’s an extraordinary amount of additional work looking after cats,' he explained.
With most strays unmicrochipped, reuniting them with owners is nearly impossible, and many end up being shipped off to shelters far from home.
Wagin isn’t alone. Across the country, councils are grappling with how to balance the rights of pet owners with the need to protect native wildlife and manage feral populations.
In South Australia, the Adelaide Hills Council requires all cats to be kept at home at all times—no more wandering the neighbourhood. If your cat is caught out and about, you could face a hefty $312.50 fine.
The Mount Barker District Council enforces a cat curfew, keeping felines indoors between 8 pm and 7 am, and has also set a two-cat limit per household. Mount Gambier Council is set to follow suit.
In the ACT, strict cat bylaws are already in place, and over half of Victorian councils have introduced cat curfews.
New South Wales is considering a proposal to stop owners letting their cats roam beyond property lines, aiming to protect native wildlife.
It’s not just about nuisance or council resources. Feral cats are a major threat to Australia’s unique wildlife. According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), feral cats kill more than 1.5 billion native animals every year.
That’s right—billion, with a ‘b’! To combat this, the government has even deployed over 400 high-tech 'laser and AI' devices to identify and target feral cats, delivering a fatal toxin to reduce their numbers.
If you are a cat lover, these changes could have a big impact. You might need to limit the number of cats you own, ensure all of them are microchipped, registered and sterilised, keep them indoors or within your property boundaries, and adjust to new curfews or containment rules.
For some, these rules might seem harsh. But for others, they’re a necessary step to protect our native wildlife and keep stray populations under control.
Not everyone is on board. Some councils, like the Shire of Pingelly, have had their cat policies rejected and are still working on new proposals.
Social media is abuzz with complaints and concerns from cat owners who feel the rules are too strict or hard to enforce.
On the other hand, wildlife advocates and many residents support the changes, pointing to the devastating impact of feral cats on native species and the strain on local resources.
Do you think councils are going too far, or is it about time we took action to protect our wildlife? Have you had to deal with stray cats in your area, or do you have tips for keeping your own moggies happy and healthy at home? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!
Read more: Pet attacks are rising, and councils are drawing the line—here’s what they want done about it
Across Australia, local councils are cracking down on cat ownership to address the growing problem of stray and feral cats.
The latest battleground is a regional shire where a proposed bylaw could limit households to just two cats—a tough pill to swallow for those who have opened their homes and hearts to more than a couple of moggies.
The move comes as Wagin faces a feline explosion. Over the past three years, the shire has sent more than 300 unwanted cats to a Perth animal shelter, an exhausting 230km away.
The sheer number of strays is overwhelming local resources, and the council says something has to give.
Michelle Muller and Larry Stanbridge, who run the Wagin Cat Rescue, have seen the problem up close.
Wagin Shire Council in WA plans to introduce a strict two-cat limit per household to curb a surge in stray and feral cats, with over 300 unwanted cats sent to Perth shelters in recent years. Credit: Wikipedia
They say the root cause is a lack of responsible ownership: too many cats aren’t sterilised, microchipped, or even registered.
'Not having your cat sterilised is the biggest issue, because they just continue to breed,' Michelle said.
The pair have even encountered a home with a staggering 40 cats under one roof!
Wagin Shire Council President Phillip Blight says the crisis is draining council resources.
'There’s an extraordinary amount of additional work looking after cats,' he explained.
With most strays unmicrochipped, reuniting them with owners is nearly impossible, and many end up being shipped off to shelters far from home.
Wagin isn’t alone. Across the country, councils are grappling with how to balance the rights of pet owners with the need to protect native wildlife and manage feral populations.
In South Australia, the Adelaide Hills Council requires all cats to be kept at home at all times—no more wandering the neighbourhood. If your cat is caught out and about, you could face a hefty $312.50 fine.
In the ACT, strict cat bylaws are already in place, and over half of Victorian councils have introduced cat curfews.
New South Wales is considering a proposal to stop owners letting their cats roam beyond property lines, aiming to protect native wildlife.
It’s not just about nuisance or council resources. Feral cats are a major threat to Australia’s unique wildlife. According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), feral cats kill more than 1.5 billion native animals every year.
That’s right—billion, with a ‘b’! To combat this, the government has even deployed over 400 high-tech 'laser and AI' devices to identify and target feral cats, delivering a fatal toxin to reduce their numbers.
If you are a cat lover, these changes could have a big impact. You might need to limit the number of cats you own, ensure all of them are microchipped, registered and sterilised, keep them indoors or within your property boundaries, and adjust to new curfews or containment rules.
Not everyone is on board. Some councils, like the Shire of Pingelly, have had their cat policies rejected and are still working on new proposals.
Social media is abuzz with complaints and concerns from cat owners who feel the rules are too strict or hard to enforce.
On the other hand, wildlife advocates and many residents support the changes, pointing to the devastating impact of feral cats on native species and the strain on local resources.
Read more: Pet attacks are rising, and councils are drawing the line—here’s what they want done about it
