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The cat laws have passed both houses of the Western Australian Parliament and will come into effect in 2013.
- They require owners to sterilise their cat by 6 months of age
- Microchip their cat
- Register their cat with their local shire Council (collar & tag)
Councils will be able to add to the basic legislation if they choose
Eg. Numbers per household
Night time curfew
Confinement to owner’s property
There will be Council pounds and they will be responsible for abandoned cats. Any subsidy scheme which may be initiated will be run by Councils. It is quite possible that as a result of the new legislation, your cat may end up in a Council pound if a disgruntled neighbour should lodge a complaint.
Dog registration is less than 50% in some Councils. It is easy under the current fencing laws to restrain a dog and, dogs have the added stimulus of going for walks in the community.
Those animal welfare groups who have extensive experience in relation to cats know that similar laws enacted in other states have proved to be very ineffective in reducing the numbers of unwanted cats.
It should be noted that the large cat organizations that have staff to actively lobby the government and promote their views in the community were the catalyst in enacting this legislation.
AS VOLUNTEERS DONATING OUR TIME AND MONEY FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS WE HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN.
WE ARE FOR CATS AND BELIEVE CONCENTRATION ON STERILISATION AND EDUCATION REGARDING THE CURRENT OVER SUPPLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE BENEFICIAL.