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Increased responsibilities of cat owners

In Victoria, prior to April 1996, there were no formal regulations or Acts dealing with cats. Some Councils had a local law requiring cats to be registered. At least one Council required all registered cats to be desexed. In April 1996 it became compulsory for the first time for cat owners to register their cats with the introduction of the Domestic (Feral/Nuisance) Animals Act 1994. Other states have similar Acts or local laws.

 

Some Councils in Victoria and other states, have introduced local laws requiring cat owners to house their pets at night and have introduced a curfew. There are even areas and estates that are cat free.

Most Councils provide traps, to collect and remove cats that are deemed to be a nuisance by residents. These cats are taken to the pound and held for the required time to enable owners to retrieve them. If they are not retrieved, the cats are either rehoused or humanely destroyed.