Community comment has been invited on a proposed Canberra-wide plan for the management of pet cats.
The Draft ACT Cat Plan seeks to better manage cats for the health, welfare, and safety of both the cats and native wildlife.
It coincides with cat containment being declared in the new suburb of Whitlam.
Minister for City Services, Chris Steel said that with about a quarter of Canberra households owning a cat, Canberra was full of cat lovers.
“Cats are an important part of our society, providing love and companionship to many. In return, it is essential we provide safe and happy homes for them,” Mr Steel said.
“The draft cat plan supports a vision where all cats will be owned, wanted and cared for by responsible owners.”
He said he welcomed feedback from the community on a range of cat management issues and proposed actions including cat containment, de-sexing, and the control of unowned and stray cats.
“Canberrans enjoy living close to nature,” Mr Steel said.
“However, for our native wildlife, this also means they are often vulnerable to predation from our cats,” he said.
“We are expanding cat containment to Whitlam particularly because it is close to the Kama Nature Reserve and Lower Molonglo Reserve, a habitat for native wildlife including the rare pink-tailed worm lizard.”
He said without community support for the final cat plan, there would continue to be both animal welfare issues and significant environmental impacts from cats.
“The Government has been expanding cat containment to new suburbs in the ACT. Residents keeping their cats contained at all times will help protect the native wildlife in this area,” the Minister said.
The draft plan has been developed as a priority under the Government’s Animal Welfare and Management Plan 2017-22 and the consultation also forms part of a broader discussion on responsible pet ownership in the ACT.
The 33-page Draft Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
