WA Government Advances Bill for Local Cat Containment Laws

The Western Australian Government has announced it will progress the Cat Amendment (Local Laws) Bill. This legislation aims to empower local governments to create and enforce their own cat containment laws.

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley stated that if passed, the Bill would empower individual councils to consult their communities on cat containment approaches and then establish local laws reflecting community needs. She added that cat containment is expected to prevent native wildlife destruction and improve the health of pet cats.

Under the proposed changes, local governments could implement various measures. These include restricting cats to owners' premises, prohibiting them from all public areas, or introducing cat curfews. Councils would also consider transition arrangements for owners of existing outdoor cats and explore other support strategies.

Addressing Past Challenges for Councils

This government initiative follows previous challenges faced by local councils regarding cat management. Last year, the WA Legislative Council disallowed a proposed City of Bayswater local law for cats after finding parts of it exceeded the powers granted by the Cat Act 2011. Similarly, the City of Stirling shelved its plans for new cat containment laws due to concerns about legislative approval. The new Bill seeks to provide the necessary legislative framework to overcome these hurdles.

Environmental and Health Justifications

The Government highlighted significant reasons for the proposed changes. Roaming pet cats are estimated to kill millions of birds, reptiles, and small mammals each year. Additionally, cats kept indoors or contained on a property are often healthier and experience fewer injuries.

A survey conducted last year indicated that nearly 80 percent of local governments across WA were interested in implementing permanent containment laws for pet cats. The WA Feral Cat Working Group noted that, despite evidence of biodiversity damage, WA's laws on responsible cat ownership are considered less stringent than those in some other regions.

Broader Review of Cat Act 2011 Underway

In related action, the Cook Government is conducting a public consultation as part of the statutory review of the Cat Act 2011. Submissions are invited on various domestic cat management topics, including registration, enforcement, sterilization, microchipping, breeding, and limits on cat ownership.