The City of Whittlesea is turning to their residents on how to best manage the growing cat population in the region.
Council is considering cat confinement and/or mandatory cat desexing. Council is concerned that cats that aren’t desexed and/or confined may end up hurt.
Last year, the council resolved their conversation on the Domestic Animal Management Plan about cats to garner a better understanding of the community’s views on the matter.
Chair Administrator Lydia Wilson said council was worried about cat welfare and how to better create a safe environment between pets and people.
“We value pets and the role they play in our community and we need to balance the wellbeing and management of pets with the needs of the whole community as a whole. In the last eight months we have had 671 complaints from the community about cats to council,” she said.
In Victoria, there are approximately 39 councils who have imposed some level of cat curfew.
There are over 7,000 registered cats in Whittlesea, of which 96 per cent are desexed.
“During the consultation for the Domestic Animals Management Plan we received a great deal of feedback asking for action on roaming pet cats and stray cats because of the harm they cause to wildlife and the nuisance they create for neighbours,” Ms Wilson said.
Residents can have their say on the matter engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/catmanagement.
