An unprecedented survey of Western Australia’s local governments has revealed overwhelming support for stronger cat management laws – with calls growing for the state government to enable permanent containment of pet cats.
The survey, conducted by the WA Feral Cat Working Group at the request of Local Government Minister Hon. Hannah Beazley, shows councils are ready to adopt best-practice cat ownership rules – but inconsistent laws are holding them back.
WA Feral Cat Working Group Executive, Dr Bruce Webber said:
‘Our report highlights a long-standing challenge for local governments in Western Australia. Their communities are calling loudly for cat containment, and they are seeking to implement solutions, but are all too often having their efforts blocked.
‘With 78% of local governments interested in implementing permanent containment for pet cats, Western Australia could quickly go from national laggards to national leaders when it comes to responsible ownership for pet cats.
‘We cannot wait for yet another review of the Cat Act to act on this mandate for cat containment, that solution will take too long to deliver. While we support a review of the Cat Act, we need immediate change to enable local governments to prevent pet cats from roaming.
‘We need to rethink what it means to be a cat owner in Western Australia and see cat containment as a basic responsibility. It’s better for everyone this way, for pets, people, and wildlife.
‘The best thing you can do for your cat is to keep it appropriately entertained while permanently contained. By preventing their cats from roaming, owners essentially eliminate the risk of death due to vehicle strike, animal attacks, diseases, being stolen, abused or being impounded. Pet cats that are permanently contained live up to 10 years longer than roaming cats.’
Invasive Species Council CEO, Jack Gough said:
‘Roaming pet cats are sending our suburbs silent. Every year across Australia they kill more than 300 million native animals – wiping out birds, reptiles, frogs and small mammals.
‘Western Australia is lagging the nation when it comes to ensuring responsible pet ownership laws and local councils are crying out for the state government to step up and empower them to protect wildlife.
‘Cats are incredible hunters and killers. We can’t change the nature of cats, but we can change the culture that allows pet cats to roam and kill our native animals. This is a basic reform which will both protect our native wildlife and give our pets a safer, longer life.
‘For the sake of our numbats, terns, frogs and skinks, Western Australia can’t afford to fail on cat containment any longer.’
Cat Haven WA CEO, Roz Robinson said:
‘Many of Cat Haven’s annual intake of 8,000 cats are friendly indicating they have had owners previously. More than 70% of these cats will be showing some sort of injury related to roaming.
‘During peak breeding season, our phones run hot with complaints from members of the public regarding mating cats, and undesexed toms spraying and damaging properties. Some members of the public take matters into their own hands with catastrophic outcomes for the cats.
‘We get continual requests from members of the public to assist with discounted vet work for their owned cats that have been injured from roaming-related incidents. Often the cat is so badly injured that immediate humane euthanasia is the only outcome.
‘What is so frustrating for us is that the poor welfare outcomes from roaming could all be avoided with owners simply containing their cats to their properties. Whilst there will always be the need for people to rehome owned cats, we could literally halve our annual intake.
‘The benefits of cat containment are tenfold to both cat and owner. Having seen thousands upon thousands of adoptions over the years, it is terribly sad how many people will tell us how their first cat was killed in a motor vehicle accident, and how they will never let any future cat wander.
‘Loving your cat isn’t about letting it free roam, it is about keeping it as safe as possible, and the only way you can do this is to keep it safe at home contained where you know it is all the time.’
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Background:
- Cats make wonderful pets, bringing joy and wellbeing benefits to their owners. There are 5.3 million pet cats in Australia with cats found in more than 30% of Australian households. There is increasing evidence-based agreement on the key components of responsible pet cat ownership: desexing, registration and microchipping, and permanent containment. However, there is inconsistent enabling policy and enforcement across the country, particularly at the local government level where these issues are managed.
- Preventing cats from roaming remains a significant challenge in Western Australia. In 2019, the WA Government’s own review showed that 73% of respondents supported laws to prevent cats from roaming. In the time since, community sentiment, largely due to improving awareness, has swung even further in support of containing pet cats.
- In 2024 the Hon. Hannah Beazley, Minister for Local Government, asked the WA Feral Cat Working Group to establish an understanding of how local governments are progressing best practice ownership of pet cats.
- The Working Group undertook a survey of all 139 local governments, with an unprecedented 74% engaging with the survey. The findings, reveal that it is time for Western Australians to rethink what it means to be a responsible pet cat owner. Change is well overdue for Western Australia to enable and encourage local cat laws that enable permanent containment for pet cats.
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