FAQs

• help keep pet cats safer
• reduce the impact of nuisance cats on community members
• better manage feral cats
• reduce the impact of cats on wildlife.

If you own a cat, or there is a cat living at your house, they must be contained on your property between sunset and sunrise.

Your cat can still go outside, but they must stay on your property. This can be done through fencing, enclosures or by keeping your cat indoors. 

Your cat should be contained on your property at all times anyway. It is also an offence for your cat to be roaming on private property during daylight hours, but it is a different piece of legislation that applies. 

The Bureau of Meteorology sets sunset and sunrise times every day. This is what we'll use to determine times. 

Visit the Bureau of Meteorology website to check times http://www.bom.gov.au/

The final decision about introducing a curfew will be made at a Council meeting. 

Council will then issue a formal Order to introduce the curfew. 

We're proposing:

• a three-month education program in the lead up to the introduction 
• a three-month cat curfew fine amnesty when the curfew is first introduced
• ongoing education for three months after the amnesty ends. 

You can keep your cat contained indoors, create a cat enclosure, build a cat-proof boundary fence or use a shed or other outside building to keep your cats in overnight. 

Your cat will adjust, but it will take time. 

We recommend:

• Keeping your cat's main meal until the end of the day so you can call it in before it gets dark.
• Making sure your cat has somewhere comfortable to spend the night in a well-aired space with a bed, water and access to a litter tray. 
• Provide a stimulating environment for your cat such as scratching posts, toys and access to a window to see out. 
• Consider installing a cat run, cat enclosure or cat-proof fencing. 

There are plenty of things you can do to keep your cat enriched in your backyard or if you choose to keep your cat indoors permanently. 

Zoos Victoria and RSPCA have developed a Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife education program. It has some fantastic 'cat hacks' and advice including:

• chase hacks
• food hacks
• sensory hacks
• sleep hacks

www.safecat.org.au

If your cat is microchipped and your details are up to date, we can re-unite you with your cat quickly and easily.

If your cat is not microchipped, we have no way of getting in touch with you. The cat will be taken to the pound for eight days. If it isn't claimed in that time, we will consider whether it is suitable for rehoming. 

If a cat is found trespassing on private property, you may still be fined. 

All cats within Victoria must be registered from 12 weeks of age (3 months)

If you cat is not registered, you will be fined. 

Amnesty

We are proposing a fine amnesty for breaching the cat curfew if your cat is caught in the first three months after the curfew is introduced. 

You will be able to reclaim your cat from the pound. 

Release fees start at $52 depending on registration and microchip status. 

If your cat is not registered you will also need to pay for registration.

You may receive a fine if your cat is caught roaming as well as a fine if your cat isn't registered. 

Under State Legislation, cats also need to be registered, microchipped and desexed before they can be returned. 

You may also be required to pay boarding fees. 

The best thing you can do is make sure your cat is registered and microchipped. If your cat is caught, it can be scanned and you can be contacted and reunited. 

If your cat can't be identified or we can't get in touch with you, Council must hold your cat for eight days before further action can be taken.

If the cat appears tame or friendly, it most likely has an owner nearby. 

In the first instance, we would encourage you to approach the cat's owner and explain the problem. They might not be aware that their cat is roaming and may be able to take some steps to keep it contained. 

If you're not comfortable contacting the cat's owner, you could consider leaving a letter with them (we have prepared a sample letter).

If you can't find the owner, you can contain the cat and secure it in a box or cage. 

We can collect cats or you can bring them in to Council's Broadford Civic Centre (during business hours Monday to Friday). 

Please note, you cannot keep a cat contained for longer than 12 hours.

We recommend covering the cage to keep the cat calm and keeping the cat somewhere safe and away from other pets. You also need to make sure the cat has suitable air flow and access to water. 

Cats are not permitted on private property without permission from the owner or occupier. The occupier has the right to contain a cat and hand it to Council.

If you are considering catching or trapping a cat, you must do so humanely. 

Hiring a trap

Council has a small number of traps that can be hired by residents at no cost. 

Residents with cats trespassing or not abiding by the cat curfew can contact Mitchell Shire Council to hire a trap. Traps can be hired for one week and must be collected and returned to Council.

It is important that traps are used humanely. We provide information to people borrowing the cages about how to use them to minimise distress to the cat as much as possible. 

Cat safety

The trap must be checked regularly and cannot be used where the trapped cat would be subject to stress such as adverse weather, harassment by other pets etc. 

Returning trapped cats

You must contact Council so Local Laws officers can collect the cat within 12 hours of it being trapped. Cats can be bought into Council's Broadford office during normal business hours on weekdays, but you must do this within 12 hours of the cat being caught. 

There is state legislation which covers the use of cat traps. 

Council has a small number of traps that can be hired by residents at no cost. 

Residents with cats trespassing or not abiding by the cat curfew can contact Mitchell Shire Council to hire a trap. Traps can be hired for one week and must be collected and returned to Council.

It is important that traps are used humanely. We provide information to people borrowing the cages about how to use them to minimise distress to the cat as much as possible.

The trap must be checked regularly and cannot be used where the trapped cat would be subject to stress such as adverse weather, harassment by other pets etc.

Trapped cats must be returned to Council within 12 hours of being caught.

Cats can be bought into Council's Broadford office during normal business hours on weekdays.

This means that you can really only use the traps if you are able to check it regularly and arrange collection or drop off during business hours. 

You can contact Council during business hours and we will arrange collection. 

At the moment, we are proposing that the Broadford office is the only place you can bring a trapped cat. This will ensure the cat can be attended to quickly and taken to our animal pound.