Residents of the Victorian city of Knox will be required to keep cats on their premises at all times under a new curfew coming into effect on October 1.
Knox City Council Mayor, Lisa Cooper said the new 24-hour cat curfew was designed to protect cats and local wildlife in the municipality, which spans 114 square kilometres and is home to around 163,000 residents.
“Much like the rules for dogs and other pets, cats won’t be allowed to roam freely from their owners’ property. When allowed to roam cats are at a much higher risk of illness and injury,” the Mayor said.
“Keeping cats within their owners’ property also protects wildlife and prevents them causing nuisance for neighbours and their pets.”
She said the cat curfew was an action of the Council’s current Domestic Animal Management Plan 2017-2021, which indicated that 85% of those surveyed supported the curfew.
Last year, Knox trialled a curfew requiring cats to be confined between sunset and sunrise. Throughout the trial, feedback was sought from the community and again more than 86% of respondents supported a curfew, with greater preference for a 24-hour curfew over a night-time curfew. Almost half of the more than 720 respondents were cat owners, Council said.
Cat owners will also be able to provide feedback on guidance Council can offer to support them with this change through consultation for the next Domestic Animal Management Plan. Consultation will commence in July. More information will be available at knox.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay
More information and resources for cat owners is available at knox.vic.gov.au/cats
