Cats make great pets

Cats make great pets, and companions for families, children and elderly people. However, owning a cat is a big responsibility. Even though they are independent animals they still need to be cared for in a similar way to dogs.

As a cat owner it is your responsibility to care for your cat by providing adequate shelter, food and water and ensuring your cat does not pose a nuisance to neighbours or a threat to wildlife and the environment.

For information on owning a cat click here to view Cat Owners Handbook.

Do I need to register my cat?

You must register your cat in Dogs and Cats Online by its mandatory microchip number. This is easy and free, council does not charge a cat registration fee. Your cat’s microchip number should be provided to you by your vet, microchip implanter, shelter or breeder. There are easy reference guides on the Dog and Cat Management Board’s website if you need help.

Cat owners who’ve registered their cat’s microchip number in Dogs and Cats Online will receive a notice each July to remind them to log in and check their details are up-to-date.

Identification of cats

All cats should be identified by either a collar which is marked with the current address or phone number or the owner, or implanted with a microchip which contains information that could be used to locate the owner. If your cat is identified and found roaming outside its property, it will be protected by the law. If you choose not to identify your cat and allow it to roam, you run the risk of your cat being collected and disposed of as an un-owned cat.

How do I identify if it’s a stray cat? Find the guide here:

Curfew for cats

Despite there being no curfew for cats, Council encourages owners to confine their cats to their property form sunset to sunrise.

The benefits of keeping your cat confined from sunset to sunrise include:

• Reducing the risk of your cat being involved in an accident.
• Reducing the likelihood of your cat being involved in a fight with another animal, which may result in expensive veterinary treatment or you cat contracting a disease such as Feline AIDS (FIV – Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
• Reducing injury to native wildlife

It is known that cats kept inside at night live at least three (3) years longer, on average, than cats who are allowed to roam at night.

Desexing your cat

Cats have the ability to reproduce from as young as four to five months old. There are many advantages of having your cat desexed at an early age, including:

• Reducing the likelihood of it roaming from your property
• Reducing the unwanted spraying of urine to mark territories
• Preventing unwanted pregnancies, which may add to the growing problem of homeless or unwanted cats.

Problem cats

If you encounter a problem cat in your neighbourhood, you should speak to the cat’s owner about the impact their cat is having on your property and environment. Council is committed to ensuring nuisance cats are kept to a minimum and will actively promote the use of cat traps by residents experiencing problems with cats.