The City of Greater Geelong will introduce a 24-hour confinement on domestic cats to help protect local wildlife, the environment, and to ensure neighbours aren’t bothered by wandering pets.
The Council voted to implement the 24-hour cat confinement order at its meeting on Tuesday 23 April after extensive consultation showed widespread community support for the initiative, including amongst cat owners.
The cat confinement order will be reviewed after 12 months of operation and reported back to Council.
Under the changes, which will come into effect on 1 November 2024, owners must confine pet cats to their properties, either inside the home, in a safe outdoor run or in a secure enclosure, at all times. Cats that leave the premises must be restrained or in a cat carrier.
The move is an extension to the existing cat curfew, which requires cat owners to keep their pets confined to their premises between sunset and sunrise.
There are 10,575 registered cat owners in Greater Geelong, accounting for 3.82 per cent of the population, and an average of 200 cats a month are impounded at the Geelong Animal Welfare Society.
Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan
The 24-hour confinement has been widely supported by the community, and will not only minimise wildlife being harmed and killed, but promote responsible pet ownership and improve the health and mortality rate of domestic cats.
Our community has been very clear in its support for more stringent measures to safely deal with cats causing a nuisance and to minimise the impact of wandering cats on wildlife and the environment.
Confining cats to their owner’s property at all times will reduce the impact that cats have on neighbours, their pets and the risk to biodiversity.
Research shows that one domestic cat can kill around 75 native animals in Australia each year, so as a cat owner myself, I hope these measures will offer better protection.
Animal welfare agencies, the RSPCA, Zoos Victoria and PETA, also advocate that cats be contained on a 24-hour confinement to improve their health and wellbeing, with many hit by cars or harmed while roaming.
Several Victorian councils, including across Melbourne and in regional areas, have already successfully introduced 24-hour cat confinement.
Between June and July last year, Council undertook extensive community consultation, receiving 2352 responses to its cat curfew survey, as well as other feedback and submissions.
Almost two-thirds of all respondents reported issues with wandering cats in their neighbourhood, including spraying and defecating on property, killing wildlife and cat fights. Around 62 per cent supported a change to 24-hour cat confinement.
Councillor Elise Wilkinson
We understand that not all owners and their cats may be prepared for a 24-hour confinement, so we are allowing a gradual transition over the next six months to ensure pet owners have time to make modifications to their homes if required and help their cat adjust.
Cats are beloved companions for many people in our community, and offer emotional support that provides a sense of comfort and security.
Under the Domestic Animal Act 1994, Council officers can issue an infringement of $96-$288 to a cat owner whose cat is found roaming outside their premises. Repeat offenders face tougher penalties.
