Cats are popular pets and can be a great addition to the family, however they need to be cared for responsibly. As a cat owner you need to ensure you are complying with the relevant Local Laws in the Douglas Shire:

Two cats are allowed per property however if you live in a Conservation Planning area you cannot own or keep a cat.

Being a responsible cat owner includes:

  • Microchipping your animal/s before 12 weeks of age. You are not permitted to sell or give away any cat or dog, born after July 2008, unless it’s been microchipped. It is an offence to keep a cat without a microchip and you may be fined. One of the main reasons for microchipping your cat is to increase the chances of being reunited, if it is lost or impounded.
  • Providing adequate food and water, shelter, bedding, stimulus and a suitable living space for your pet.
  • Ensure your pet has an appropriate sized and adequately fenced enclosure, they cannot escape from.
  • Your animal’s enclosure should always be clean and sanitary.
  • Keeping your pet/s up to date for vaccinations and worming (this helps protect the whole family).
  • De-sexing your pet/s.
  • Ensuring your cats collar has bells and an identification tag, with correct phone numbers.
  • Keeping your cat/s inside so they don’t have the opportunity to kill the local wildlife especially at night.
  • Not allowing your pet to wander.
  • Make sure your animal/s don’t create nuisance to neighbours or other community members.
  • Cats do not need to registered with Douglas Shire Council, if you move to another area check with the Local Council for cat registration requirements.

Being a responsible pet owner, also means knowing how much they’ll cost to look after. Here, you’ll find helpful information about the costs of owning a pet.

Benefits of desexing your cat:

  • Your pets are less likely to suffer from disease and certain illnesses, such as:
    • Female – mammary cancer and uterine infections
    • Males – prostate problems
  • Helps prevent roaming and injury:
    • Females – prevents mating behaviour and false pregnancy
    • Males – reduces behavioural problems such as roaming, aggression and urine marking
  • Prevents unwanted litters (Cats can become pregnant by 4 months of age)
  • Longer life – research shows that desexed animals can live longer.

Keeping your cat safe

It is the responsibility of the pet owner or the keeper of the animal, to contain your pet on your property.

Cats can create a real nuisance in the neighbourhood.

  • They can kill or disturb wildlife
  • They can disturb neighbours by fighting, making noise, urinating and defecating on neighbours property
  • Cats can travel long distances
  • Cats can easily be lost and become feral, if they are not contained on your property
  • They can create traffic hazards especially at night

Council provides free loans of cat traps to catch nuisance or feral cats.

Cats are innate hunters. You can protect wildlife in your neighbourhood by confining your cat to your property and placing a bell on your cat’s collar. Ensuring your cat is inside every night will also help protect wildlife, as well as your cat

CAT ENCLOSURES

Cat enclosures – are a great way for your cats to enjoy the outdoors, but remain safe and prevent them from wandering.

Allowing your cat to venture outside in a purpose designed enclosure can:
  • Be a great source of entertainment
  • Prevent your cat creating a nuisance to your neighbours
  • Helps protect local wildlife. Cats can and do kill wildlife, especially at night.
  • Confine your cat to your property, and will keep them safe.
There are different ways to create a cat enclosure:
  • Buy a purpose designed enclosure from a hardware store
  • Adapt an aviary
  • Enclose a section of your veranda with chicken wire
  • Build a cat proof fence by attaching small gauge chicken wire or other marketed products to the top of an existing fence, angled into your property so your cat cannot escape over the top

Some sources of entertainment you can include in your cats enclosure are:

  • Scratching poles
  • Perches to climb
  • Areas they can sunbathe
  • Shelter from the sun, wind, rain, cold and hot weather
  • To encourage exercise include some cat toys
  • You can also offer them cat grass and cat nip as source of enrichment.

* Please check with your neighbours before modifying the top of an adjoining fence. Reminder that all cats require food, water, a litter tray, shelter and suitable sleeping area.

Are your pets microchip details up to date?

Microchips are great for reuniting you and your pet but they’re only effective if the details are kept up to date.

To update your details on your cat or dogs microchip, contact the vet who administered it or if you don’t have the details of who your pet’s microchip is recordered with you can contact one of the providers below.

Central Animal Records
www.car.com.au
Phone: 03 9706 3187

Australasian Animal Registry (AAR)
http://www.rasnsw.com.au/animal-registry
Phone: 02 9704 1450