The ACT Government has introduced new legislation that it claims will help Canberra’s cats live longer and healthier lives, while better protecting native wildlife.
From 1 July, all cats must be registered, and their details updated annually. Existing owners can register their cat for free, while new owners after this date will pay a small one-off fee. The new requirement mirrors the ACT’s annual dog registration scheme.
“Introducing annual registration for cats will mean we can reunite lost cats with their families more quickly by having up-to-date contact details, and will ensure better education and enforcement of responsible cat ownership,” said Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services.
The legislation expands cat containment across Canberra for cats born from 1 July. Cats born before then will be allowed to roam, unless they live in one of Canberra’s 17 declared cat containment suburbs.
“Existing cats and their owners may not be prepared for, or used to, full containment,” Mr Steel said. “The grandfathering approach for existing pet cats strikes the right balance to allow a fair and gradual transition.”
New Canberra suburbs will be declared cat containment areas; however, cats may be walked on a leash in these suburbs.
Pet cats that roam live shorter lives on average; have higher rates of disease than those contained in the home; and harm native wildlife (like birds), Mr Steel said.
The bill contains new strict liability offences for pet owners who do not register their cats or keep them contained when they must.
However, the ACT Government will take an educative approach to compliance during the transition to the new scheme, to give pet owners and the Canberra community time to understand the new requirements.
These reforms to cat registration and containment implement key elements of the ACT Cat Plan released in 2021.
Conservation Council ACT: “An important step forward”
The Conservation Council ACT Region said the new legislation was an important step forward in how the ACT manages domestic animals and protects native wildlife.
“This Bill is a welcome start to Canberra-wide cat containment, and with its introduction, we will hopefully see a big shift in awareness in the community about what it means to care for cats, and our wildlife,” said Helen Oakey, Executive Director.
Unfortunately, the Council said, because the implementation measures only apply to new cats from 1 July, Canberra’s wildlife will face threats from roaming cats until the current cat population reaches the end of its natural lifespan.
“Australia is facing a biodiversity crisis, and cats – pets and feral – are powerful predators and a key threat to small mammals and reptiles, and bird species,” Ms Oakey said. “Canberra’s wildlife is particularly susceptible to the impacts of cat predation due to the proximity of urban areas to nature reserves.
“The Government’s ‘grandfathering’ approach – which means that cats acquired after July 1 2022 will be required to be contained, and already-owned cats will not – will mean that many cats will still, legally, be allowed to roam. But we hope that these new laws are accompanied by strong community education about the benefits of keeping cats safely within a home environment.
Registration of all pet cats, also provided for in the Bill, will be crucial to ensure compliance and return lost cats to their owners, Ms Oakey said.
The Conservation Council urged the ACT Government to review the effectiveness of the new laws in July 2023.
“This would be a good time to consider the benefits of setting a date by which already-owned cats should also be kept indoors,” Ms Oakey said.
“Many cat owners may be unaware of the impact that their pets have on native wildlife. Hopefully, these new laws will help them find out more, so they can take steps to keep their cats at home where they are safer, and keep Canberra’s wildlife safe too.”
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