The City of Melville Council is requesting feedback from the community on a revised, draft Cat Local Law incorporating revisions made in response to community and State Government input provided earlier this year – including a proposed two cat per household limit.
The new law aims to balance the needs and interests of cat owners with the City’s responsibility to protect native wildlife and amenity for the community, Council said in a statement.
“I’d like to encourage all of our residents to take a moment to provide us with your feedback and I encourage you to visit our website to find out all the ways you can make a submission and have your say,” said Deputy Mayor, Karen Wheatland.
“The City of Melville recognises that cats are much loved companions for many of our residents, enhancing their health and wellbeing.
“I believe the proposed law and its recent revisions provide a good balance that takes into account our feline friends and their owners, alongside our responsibility as guardians to protect significant natural places and wildlife for future generations to enjoy.”
Key elements of the proposed law include:
- The creation of ‘cat-free’ zones in specified places with important flora and fauna, or significant conservation reserves within the City of Melville LGA;
- The introduction of a two-cat household limit, with any additional cats above the limit needing approval by Council;
- The ability, where appropriate, for the Council to take action where a cat creates a nuisance;
- The requirement for Council approval for any cattery or cat management facility, unless the operator is exempt from requiring approval.
Principal revisions, made since the draft’s first submission to the public mid-year, have reduced the scale of the ‘cat-free’ zones, with fewer cat prohibited areas now proposed, the Council said.
The revisions have also provided further clarification on the two-cat limit proposed per household. Cats being fostered or looked after temporarily by a community member won’t count towards their household limit. Cat shelters, veterinary practices and other specified facilities where cats are housed temporarily are also exempt from the two-cat limit.
“Should the local law come into effect, households who already have more than two cats in permanent residence would not be required to obtain a permit. However, all their cats would need to be registered with the City of Melville and any new cats obtained after the law coming into effect would require a permit,” the Council said.
The Council has also updated the nuisance definition to better align with the State Government’s preferred definition, with this change including the removal of a clause about harm to native wildlife.
The proposed local law is one of the key actions of the Council’s Cat Management Plan 2022-2026, which was informed by extensive engagement with the community, State Government, cat industry bodies, and a range of relevant data sources and research papers.
A majority of respondents (85.89%), to a comprehensive community engagement program in 2021, indicated they were supportive of prohibiting cats from certain areas, such as native bushland and reserves.
Public comment on the revised, draft City of Melville Cat Local Law is open until 4pm Monday, 20 January 2025.
To read the revised, draft Cat Local Law and submit feedback, visit www.melvillecity.com.au/catlocallaw.
