Amendments to the
Cat Management Act 2009 are placing a limit on the number of cats that can be kept at property.
How many cats can I keep?
From 1 March 2022, amendments to the Cat Management Act 2009 will limit the number of cats a person can keep on an individual property to four (4) cats.
The limit does not apply to a person keeping more than four cats if the person:
holds a Multiple Cat Permit; or
is a registered cat breeder; or
holds a
Cat Breeding Permit in relation to all cats in excess of four cats; or
is operating a cat boarding facility or veterinary establishment; or
is fostering a cat for a Cat Management Facility or an approved organisation; or
is minding someone else's cat for less than six months, and the owner of the cat does not reside on the individual property, and no payment is made for keeping the cat.
Multiple Cat Permits
From 1 March 2022, a person is required to hold a Multiple Cat Permit if they have more than four cats over the age of four months, and none of the exceptions listed above apply to their circumstances.
There are two different application forms, one for
individuals, and one for
organisations.
Rescue and shelter organisations
Animal rescue/animal shelter organisations will need to complete the
Multiple Cat Permit - Organisation application form.
Foster Carers
A person who is part of a fostering program managed by a
Cat Management Facility or other approved organisation is
exempt from the limit to the number of cats they can keep on their property, provided the cats are being kept as part of a foster program for a Cat Management Facility.
A person that is part of a fostering program managed by a rescue/shelter that is
not a
Cat Management Facility does
not have to apply for a Multiple Cat Permit if the rescue/shelter has a valid Multiple Cat Permit - Organisation, as any foster carers will automatically be covered by the permit for the rescue/shelter.
How to apply for a Multiple Cat Permit
Applications for a Multiple Cat Permit can be submitted by completing an on-line application form:
A person wishing to apply for a Multiple Cat Permit must:
complete the application in full;
understand the conditions of the permit (an applicant may still submit an application even if they are currently unable to meet all the conditions of the permit, as time will be afforded for applicants to be able to comply);
agree to placing a public notice of their intention to hold a Multiple Cat Permit (to be provided) either at the entry points of their property, or in a common area of an apartment or unit complex.
Publishing a public notice
During the multiple cat permit application review process, an applicant will be provided with instructions on publishing the notice notifying of their intention to apply for a multiple cat permit. The notice will need to be placed at the entry point to the property for a period of 14 days, and will be provided to the applicant along with directions of how to display the notice, the date the notice must be displayed and the duration the notice must stay in place.
The placement of the notice is to allow for a person who lives on or owns land within 200m of the boundary of the property to be able to make an objection to the application.
During the 14-day publication period, the location details of the property will be placed on the NRE Tas webpage: Making an objection to an Application for a Multiple Cat Permit. Once the 14-day publication period has ceased, the location of the property will be removed from the webpage.
General Conditions of a Multiple Cat Permit (Individual)
The issuing of a Multiple Cat Permit (Individual) is subject to the applicant meeting the conditions detailed below. All conditions must be met. Failure of the permit holder to meet any one condition may result in the multiple cat permit being revoked and/or a fine being issued:
Desexing of Cats: All cats kept under a Multiple Cat Permit must be desexed. Evidence in the form of a desexing certificate, a letter from a veterinary surgeon, or another accepted form of evidence, must be provided to an authorised person on request. Exceptions to this condition are in accordance with section 14(2) of the
Cat Management Act 2009 ('the Act').
Microchipping of Cats: All cats kept under a Multiple Cat Permit must be microchipped. Evidence in the form of a current microchip registration, or another accepted form of evidence, must be provided to an authorised person on request. Exceptions to this condition are in accordance with section 12(2) of the Act.
Cats to be contained on the individual property: All cats kept under a Multiple Cat Permit must not be permitted to enter or remain in any other property or premises without permission from the owner or occupier of the property.
Exceeding permitted number of cats: The number of cats kept on the property must not exceed the number for which a Multiple Cat Permit is granted. Exceptions to this condition are; in accordance with section 16A(3)(f) or 16A(3)(e) of the Act, or when fostering cats for a shelter/rescue group who hold a valid multiple cat permit-organisation.
Health conditions: Living conditions at the identified property must not cause, or be likely to cause, danger or harm to the health and safety or welfare of any cat or person residing at the identified property.
Comply with legislation and by-laws: All cats kept under a Multiple Cat Permit must be kept in accordance with the requirements of the
Cat Management Act 2009, the
Animal Welfare Act 1993, relevant subordinate legislation and relevant municipal council by-laws in relation to the keeping of animals.
Permission for inspection: The permit holder must make the premises (including residential buildings) available for inspection by an authorised person at any reasonable time deemed necessary by a person authorised under the Act.
Production of Multiple Cat Permit: A valid Multiple Cat Permit must be retained and produced for inspection by arrangement at the request of a person authorised under the Act.
Update NRE Tas:The permit holder must advise NRE Tas of any changes regarding the cats listed on the permit within 14 days.
General Conditions of a Multiple Cat Permit (Organisation)
The issuing of the multiple cat permit (organisation) is subject to the conditions as detailed below. All conditions must be met. Failing to meet any one condition may result in the multiple cat permit being cancelled.
Desexing of Cats: All cats must be desexed as soon as practicable after coming into the care of the organisation. Exceptions to this condition are in accordance with section 14(2) of the Cat Management Act 2009 (the Act).
Microchipping of Cats: All cats must be microchipped as soon as practicable after coming into the care of the organisation. Exceptions to this condition are in accordance with section 12(2) of the Act.
Cats to be contained to property: All cats kept at nominated organisation site, or in the care of foster carers, must not be permitted to enter or remain in any other property or premises without permission from the owner or occupier of the other property or premises.
Capacity to care: The organisation must ensure that they have the capacity to care for the number of cats in their care, including those in foster care, by ensuring they can provide adequate treatment, housing, and space, as well as adequate staffing/volunteer levels.
Health conditions: Housing conditions of the cats at the nominated organisation site or when in the care of a foster carer, must not cause, or be likely to cause, danger or harm to the health and safety or welfare of any cat or person at the cat management facility, or foster care location.
Comply with legislation and by-laws: All cats kept under a Multiple Cat Permit must be kept in accordance with the requirements of the Cat Management Act 2009, the Animal Welfare Act 1993, relevant subordinate legislation, and relevant municipal council by-laws in relation to the keeping of animals.
Permission for inspection: The permit holder must make the premises (including residential buildings) available for inspection by an authorised person at any reasonable time deemed necessary by a person authorised under the Act.
Production of Multiple Cat Permit: A valid Multiple Cat Permit must be retained and produced for inspection by arrangement at the request of a person authorised under the Act.
Re-homing of cats: All cats re-homed must be desexed (unless in accordance with Section 14(2) of the Act), microchipped (unless in accordance with section 12(2) of the Act), over 8 weeks of age, vaccinated, free from external parasite and treated for internal worms.
Records: all records relating to re-homing and cats in the care under this permit (regardless of duration) are to be kept for no less than 5 years and must be made available at the request of an authorised person under the Act.
Update NRE Tas:The permit holder must advise NRE Tas of any changes relevant to the permit within 14 days.
How much does a Multiple Cat Permit cost?
There will not be a charge for a Multiple Cat Permit in 2023. This may be subject to change.
Objections to an application for a Multiple Cat Permit
A person who lives on or owns land within 200m of the boundary of a property to which the application for the permit relates has a right to object to the granting of a Multiple Cat Permit. Objections can be made by completing the form located on the webpage
Objections to an Application for a Multiple Cat Permit.