Encouraging responsible cat ownership and reducing public and environmental nuisance caused by cats are the major aims of a new local law recently adopted by the Shire of Ashburton.

The local law, which will take effect from 1 July 1998, and is designed to promote the effective management of cats and limit the damage to and loss of wildlife caused by them.

The major requirements of the local law include:

The owner is required to have a standard collar on a cat over the age of six months with a tag attached to it with the owner’s name and address or telephone number on the tag;

No more than two cats on a property unless with the consent of the Council;

Penalties for abandoning and unlawfully trapping a cat.

Penalties for cats creating a nuisance or attacking a person or animal and

Impounding of cats and the destruction of cats that have not been claimed from the pound after 72 hours.

Shire Chief Executive Officer said that it was important that people have their cats identified with a collar and tag.

"The impounding and destruction provisions give Council the power to deal with feral or abandoned cats which are causing a major problem within the townsites and destroying native wildlife," said Mr Carey.

"It is important for cat owners to identify their cat because if it should stray or become lost the Ranger can check the tag and advise them that their cat has been found."

There is no registration fee such as that applying to dogs an impounding fee of $20 and $5 sustenance will apply to those cats, which are impounded and claimed by their owners.

The local law will be enforced from 1 July 1998 so as to allow sufficient time for the public to obtain collars and for public education.

As the local law only permits two cats on a property if a person currently has more than two cats they should contact the Council as soon as possible to find out about their rights and responsibilities with regard to this matter.

The Shire Rangers and nominated staff are authorised to enforce this local law and infringements ranging from $50 to $200 may be issued for non-compliance with the local law.

The Council considered a draft local law in March 1998 and submissions made by the public were taken into account when the local law was finally adopted at the May meeting.

For further information please contact Council’s Senior Administration Officer, Mr David Ashton on (08) 9189 1029.

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16 February, 2000

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