Are cat owners required to contain their cat to their property?
There is no requirement under the
Cat Management Act 2009 (the Act) for owners to contain their cat(s) to their property. Keeping a cat within the owner’s property is however, strongly encouraged. A multiple cat permit and/or a cat breeding permit may have conditions to ensure the cat/s are not wandering onto other people’s property without permission. Councils may also have or make by-laws for containment if they so choose. The Act allows for protection of private property from cats, which means that a roaming cat may be trapped if it is found on someone else’s land.
How can a person stop their cat from roaming? Is it costly?
Cats can adjust to being kept inside by gradually keeping them inside for longer and longer periods of time, and by providing them with toys to keep them stimulated. In addition, there are straightforward, relatively cheap, outdoor enclosures that can be constructed, which provide freedom and protection for the cat. For example, cat netting can be purchased and installed using existing household structures such as adjacent walls or fences or to enclose an existing outdoor balcony or pergola area (check with your relevant local government on any building laws). Simple, self-built climbing structures can also be easily added.
Keeping pet cats contained to their owners' property is the best way to ensure the welfare of the cats and local wildlife.
Further information on cat enclosures or ideas to keep your cats from leaving your property are available on the
TassieCat website.
Is my neighbour permitted to trap my cat?
Yes. A person who owns or leases a premises may trap, seize and detain a cat found on the premises. A person within 24 hours of trapping a cat must arrange for the cat to be:
Can a person who traps my cat, euthanise my cat?
A cat may be humanely destroyed if found on
primary production land or at a
production premises by a person managing primary production on the land, a person who is the occupier of the premises, or a person working on behalf of one of the afore mentioned.
A cat found on a
private premises may be humanely destroyed by the owner of the premises, if the cat is trapped (or found) more than 1km from any structure or building used as a place of residence.
Note: Humane destruction must be conducted in accordance with all relevant legislation including the Cat Management Act 2009, the Animal Welfare Act 1993, and the Firearms Act 1996.
What should I do if I see a cat in a national park or on reserved land?
If you see a cat in a national park or on reserved land, please notify Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service on tel. 1300 827 727
(Mon-Fri 9am to 4.30pm), or fill out and lodge an online Feedback Form. Please ensure you provide the name and approximate location within which national park where the cat/s were sighted.
What should I do if I see a cat in a council reserve near me?
Contact the relevant municipal council and inform them of your observations. Please ensure you know the name of the reserve when you contact them.
There are always cats roaming around my neighbourhood. Can anything be done about it?
Contact the relevant
municipal council to discuss the matter. It could be that there is a stray or feral cat population in the area. If you know the owner of the cats, you can try dropping off some friendly letters in your neighbours’ letterboxes. See TassieCat's webpage
Cats in the Neighbourhood for a letter template.
If the cats are roaming onto your land, under the Cat Management Act 2009 you can trap the cats (see TassieCat's
Guidelines for trapping a cat in urban and peri-urban areas). Before you set any trap, please contact your local
Cat Management Facility to ensure they will be able to
take any cats that you trap, and find out if there are any fees associated with them accepting a trapped cat.
What do I do if I see cats in poor condition?
If you see a cat in poor condition, if possible, get photos of the cat/s (without breaking any laws), make a note of the area where the cats are located, and contact the
RSPCA hotline either on tel. 1300 139 947 or
reportit@rspcatas.org.au (this can be done anonymously).
I have a cat that keeps roaming into my yard. Is there something that can be done about it?
If you know the owner of the cats, you could try talking to them. If that is not possible, try dropping a friendly letter into your neighbours’ letterbox. See TassieCat's webpage Cats in the Neighbourhood for a letter template.
You can trap cats on your own property (see trapping guidelines and information about trapping cats under the
Cat Management Act 2009). Before you set any trap, contact your local
Cat Management Facility to ensure they will be able to take any cats that you trap and to find out if there are any fees associated with them accepting a trapped cat.
There are some natural and friendly ways to deter cats from your property and most are simple and cost-effective.
Use unpleasant odours - try sprinkling scent repellents in your garden such as citrus, cayenne pepper or ground coffee.
Talk to your local garden supply store to discuss plant options that deter cats
Use ultrasonic pet repellents around your yard
Use a sprinkler or hose (on a gentle pressure, never use a high pressure hose or hose on high pressure) to get a cat to move off your property.
Where can I obtain a trap to catch cats roaming onto my property?
I have trapped a cat. What should I do with it?
If you trap a cat, under the
Cat Management Act 2009 you must do one of the following within 24 hours after trapping:
arrange for the return of the cat to its owner; or
arrange for the cat to be taken to a cat management facility; or
arrange for the cat to be taken to a person, business or organisation nominated by a cat management facility.
Before setting a trap with the intention of trapping a cat, you should talk to their local
Cat Management Facility to ensure they have the capacity to take the cat.
Why should I pay to take a cat to a cat management facility when it’s not my cat?
Cat management facilities are non-government funded organisations. They may ask for a donation when accepting a cat to assist with the veterinary and housing costs. Before setting a trap, ring the
Cat Management Facility to
understand the facility’s procedures for accepting a cat, operating hours, and any associated fees.
My neighbour has a lot of cats, and I am concerned about the living conditions for the cats. Who can I report it to?
In the first instance, contact the relevant
municipal council to report the situation. If you think the cats are in poor condition and there may be welfare concerns, you can contact the
RSPCA hotline anonymously on either tel. 1300 139 947 or email reportit@rspcatas.org.au.
Situations such as these can take some time to work through, so please don’t be disheartened if things appear to be moving slowly (for privacy and other reasons the RSPCA and other investigating bodies do not provide feedback on investigations).
If you believe the person may be breaching the 4 cat limit under the Cat Management Act 2009 you can report the issue by emailing invasivespecies@nre.tas.gov.au.
Can a person who has a conservation covenant on private land humanely destroy a cat?
A covenant established under Part 5 of the
Nature Conservation Act 2002 is regarded as 'reserved land' and therefore falls within the definition of a 'cat prohibited area'. The Cat Management Act 2009 permits a person responsible for a 'cat prohibited area', or a person acting on their behalf, to take cat management action in relation to any cat found in the prohibited area. Cat management action includes: