The peak body for councils in NSW has expressed disappointment with the NSW parliamentary inquiry report into the management of cat populations, describing its hesitance to support enforceable cat containment policies for councils as “a missed opportunity”.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) president, mayor Phyllis Miller OAM, said that while the report included some positive recommendations, the refusal to back enforceable cat containment policies for councils would result in worse outcomes for biodiversity, threatened species, communities and cats themselves.
“Councils are on the frontline, trying to improve animal welfare and environmental protection. But without having the option to choose enforceable containment, our hands are tied when cats are left to roam, become predators or just cause a general nuisance,” Ms Miller said.
“We need mandatory cat containment measures and they must be accompanied by adequate funding and resources so that councils can enforce them,” Ms Miller said
“Australians have adapted to the legal requirement to keep dogs confined to residential premises. Local government seeks the same provision for cats.
Mayor Miller also pointed to the need for better education of cat owners and carers to reduce the roaming of cats, particularly at night.
“Cats simply need to be kept indoors at night,” she said. “As a cat owner myself, I know how important this is – not only to protect native fauna but also to protect my pet! It’s really not that hard and cat owners need to be better at getting onboard.”
In its inquiry submission, LGNSW highlighted the impact of cats on Australian biodiversity. The submission noted that cats had already driven 27 species to extinction since colonisation and threaten at least 124 more species with the same fate.
Mayor Miller acknowledged the committee’s recognition of the urgent need for stronger cat management strategies, including funding for free and subsidised desexing, along with statewide education and behaviour-change programs.
“Those measures are welcome and essential. But effective management requires a holistic approach – statewide education, desexing, containment, trapping, and adequate funding for councils, welfare groups and rehoming organisations. To exclude containment is to ignore one of the most powerful tools we have,” she said.
“We know the NSW Government is also conducting a review of the Companion Animals Act and LGNSW will continue to advocate strongly for councils to be able to adopt these policies,” she said.
“The government must step in and deliver the legislative tools and also the funds and resources that councils need to effectively manage this problem.”
Gunnedah Shire Council last year noted that its authorised officers are able to issue a Notice of Intent to Issue a Nuisance Cat Order, and a Nuisance Cat Order to the owner of a cat in circumstances that are clearly set out in the legislation.
However, it is typically very difficult to prove ownership of a cat or even the identity of a nuisance cat. Residents complaining about the noise or behaviour of a cat may be required to give evidence in a court.
Council’s authorised officers require evidence before taking any sort of enforcement action that might end up in court. There are a range of fines that can be issued to the owners of both cats and dogs under the Companion Animals Act 1998.
