Cat Management
Council is not directly involved in the management of cats, but we do encourage and support responsible ownership of cats.
The management of Cats in Tasmania is guided by the controls set out in the Cat Management Act 2009.
Cats are much loved and valued pets for many people. It has been estimated however that cats kill more than 75 million native animals a year. They can also spread diseases to livestock, humans and wildlife.
As we live in an area abundant in native wildlife, some of which are threatened, and where agriculture is an important industry, we encourage all cat owners to be responsible cat owners.
We are supporting a Northern Regional Cat Management Strategy and collaborating with other councils and stakeholders to promote responsible cat management as part of the state Cat Management initiative.
The TassieCat website is a great source of information for cat owners and others on keeping our cats, communities and wildlife safe. The TassieCat facebook page is worth a look too.
For information on cat management in Tasmania, including controlling cats under the Cat Management Act, visit the state government cat management webpages.
The Cat Management Act includes rules for trapping cats (seizing, detaining, destroying and releasing). Animal welfare must be the first consideration for cat control.
The Cat Management Act 2009 is administered by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), a state government agency. Local government does not have any direct obligations under the Act to control cats however, the opportunity exists for Local Government to participate.
As of 1 July 2012, any cat that is to be sold or given away (must be at least 8 weeks old) must first be desexed, microchipped, wormed and vaccinated. With regards microchipping and desexing the only exceptions are for cats owned by registered breeders and genuine show cats or if the owners have a certificate from a vet exempting the cat.
No. You are not bound by law to confine your cat. However, Council strongly recommends for the benefit of your cat, your neighbours and local wildlife that you keep your cat confined to your house and yard. Cat owners have a responsibility to ensure their cat/s do not become a nuisance to their neighbours. If a neighbour’s cat is becoming a regular nuisance, please consider discussing the problem with the cat’s owner, often they are unaware that there is a problem.
No. The Cat Management Act 2009 is administered by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), a state government agency. Local government does not have any direct obligations or funding and resources under the Act to control, trap or collect cats. Northern Midlands Council however is working to promote responsible cat ownership.
Council, DPIPWE and the cat management facilities do not have resources to go out and remove nuisance stays or other cats. A cat management facility may take trapped cats but in most cases, will not trap them.
The closest cat management facilities for Northern Midlands residents are:
- Just Cats, 20 Calvary Road Mowbray, 030 6388 9202
The TassieCat website www.tassiecat.com is a great source of information for cat owners and others on keeping our cats, communities and wildlife safe.
For further information on Cat Management visit Department of Primary Industries Water and Environment www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au
The introduction of the Cat Management Act in 2009 initiated new efforts to tackle cat problems in Tasmania. In 2016 the Tasmanian Government released its Cat Management Plan and in 2019 it launched the Tasmanian Cat Management Project ‘TassieCat’ and amendments to improve the Cat Management Act started coming into force in March 2021.
It has been estimated that cats kill more than 75 million native animals a year in Australia, including some species threatened with extinction. Cats also can carry diseases which affect sheep, other animals and humans, such as toxoplasmosis which can cause miscarriage and birth defects.
As we live in an area abundant in native wildlife and livestock grazing is important to our local economy, we encourage all cat owners to understand their responsibilities as a cat owner. Three things to do are microchip and desex your cat and keep it safe, at home and not roaming.
Use the TassieCat website to find out more about how and look out for changes to cat management in Tasmania and opportunities for responsible cat management in the future.
Trapping cats
If you are concerned about stray and roaming cats near you the Cat Management Act includes rules for trapping cats (seizing, detaining, destroying and releasing). Always treat animals humanely and respect their welfare (the Animal Welfare Act applies).
Under amendments to the Cat Management Act coming into force 1 March 2021:
- A person will be permitted to trap a cat on their private property, provided the trap is checked at least once within every 24-hour period after the trap is first set; and a trapped cat is either returned to its owner; or taken to a cat management facility or a nominee of a cat management facility, within 24 hours of being trapped. Arrangements should be made with cat management facilities before setting a trap.
- A person managing ‘primary production land’ or occupier of ‘production premises’ is permitted to humanely destroy a cat on ‘primary production land’ or at ‘production premises’. Persons undertaking lethal cat management action would need to comply with other relevant legislation, such as the Animal Welfare Act 1993 and the Firearms Act 1996.
Managers of Crown Land and formal nature conservation reserves (Prohibited Areas for cats) may trap, seize or humanely destroy a cat found on those areas. Council can declare Council land as Prohibited Areas also, and declare Cat Management Areas elsewhere, to support actions to reduce cat populations and to encourage responsible car care.
TassieCat has good information (here) that will help you and your neighbourhood if you are concerned about stray or roaming cat problems. Council does not have any facilities for the surrender and sheltering of cats.
You can find more information from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
For more information on feral cat management see the Biosecurity Tasmanian feral cats website