A picturesque border town famous for its dramatic volcanic scenery and serene lakes might soon become the centre of an unexpected showdown.

A proposal to limit the number of cats per household is ruffling feathers—and fur—among residents in Mount Gambier.

Now, the fate of beloved pets could hinge on a single council vote.


The City of Mount Gambier Council was set to vote on 16 July 2025 on a controversial new cat management by-law that could see residents restricted to just two cats per household.

The proposed cap would only apply to cats born after the law’s adoption, but other elements of the crackdown would affect all current pet owners.

If approved, the by-law would give the council power to introduce cat curfews, require confinement to private property, and roll out mandatory registration.


It would also create a new ‘nuisance offence’, prohibiting cat owners from allowing their pets to ‘unreasonably interfere with the peace, comfort or convenience of others’.

The move followed mounting frustration from locals who said free-roaming cats had become a chronic problem across the town.

‘This is way overdue for our community,’ one local stated during the public consultation process.

‘Many people are at theirs wit’s end with the amount of cats wandering and using people’s gardens as toilets.

‘There are so many residents that feel helpless and feel there is nothing they can do to prevent the constant cat activity on their property from either strays or cats owned by irresponsible owners.’

Another respondent called for even tougher regulations.

‘I would like them to be stronger and strictly policed,’ they wrote.

‘My neighbourhood cats continually defecate in my garden beds and I do not know which cat lives where.’


But the pushback has been equally passionate.

Some cat owners have argued the changes unfairly target responsible pet owners.

‘I do not agree with placing a limit on the number of cats,’ one submission read.

‘Yes, if they are not desexed but as a responsible cat owner with eight that are all desexed I feel it is unfair.

‘Penalise the irresponsible people who allow their pets to breed out of control—not those of us already doing the right thing.’


Animal welfare groups also raised red flags about the possible fallout.

The Animal Pet Welfare Foundation warned that strict enforcement could backfire.

‘While well-intentioned, punitive measures such as new nuisance offences, cat limits, and confinement orders are unlikely to deliver improved community or animal welfare outcomes,’ the group said.

‘Evidence shows these approaches often lead to increased abandonment, lower compliance, and strained relations with the community, undermining responsible cat ownership.’

The foundation also highlighted the mental health implications for owners forced to part with their pets.

‘Pet ownership is well-documented to provide substantial mental health benefits, including reducing loneliness, stress, and anxiety.

‘Enforcement-based strategies that separate people from their pets or impose distressing conditions can erode these protective effects.’


Instead, the group has urged the council to consider proactive alternatives such as education, microchipping, and widespread desexing initiatives.

The final decision now rests in the hands of eight councillors—five must vote in favour for the by-law to pass.

For those wondering how other communities are responding to similar issues, Mount Gambier isn’t the only place grappling with the fallout of free-roaming pets.

With tensions rising between pet owners and councils, a growing number of towns are stepping in to address the surge in animal-related disturbances.

One recent case highlights just how far some councils are willing to go to protect public spaces and native wildlife.

Read more: Pet attacks are rising, and councils are drawing the line—here’s what they want done about it


Could a battle over backyard gardens really lead to new rules that change how we live with our pets?