The ACT government’s cat containment laws have fallen behind the release of new suburbs, leaving pet owners in many areas having to build enclosures in the future, or risk having their roaming cat locked up.
Since its introduction in 2000, legislation has been refined to protect rare animals in the bush with 24 hours a day containment, but some residents are moving to new suburbs nearby, unaware of their obligations.
The ACT Conservation Council says residents should be told before buying into new suburbs that they will be subject to the containment laws, which are aimed at protecting native birds, lizards and frogs.
Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury has declared Moncrieff and Jacka as the latest cat containment suburbs, and is about to write to Jacka residents to say they have until January 1, 2017, to act. Mr Rattenbury says between 100 and 200 homes in Jacka could be subject to the legislation, as well as new homes in the future.
“It would be unreasonable to declare cat containment with immediate effect for an existing suburb,” Mr Rattenbury said. “People should not suddenly be in a situation where their cat is illegally roaming because the government changed the law overnight.”
Mr Rattenbury said the entire Molonglo area had not been declared a cat containment area because some suburb boundaries were still being defined. But the Conservation Council says declarations can be made using strategic assessment maps.
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ACT director Clare Henderson said suburbs should be declared earlier. “We have had to lobby case by case for a declaration of suburb, but it is policy; they should all be declared as early as possible before suburbs are named and land sold. In Forde and Bonner the declarations were used as a positive selling point.”
The council says former Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur’s comments in 2011 made clear the Greens policy that new outer residential areas should be compulsory cat containment areas and there should be retro-fitting in areas where properties adjoin nature reserves. Making this government policy would give people clarity and certainty.
“New suburbs being planned and built right now which should be clear cat containment areas such as Lawson, the whole of Molonglo – not suburb by suburb – the future part of Holt, Kenny, Throsby and all other suburbs which are adjacent to natural areas,” Ms Le Couteur had said.
Mr Rattenbury said a breakdown in communication had been overcome between the Land Development Agency, which releases and markets new suburbs, and his department. But he could not specify a declaration date for Casey, a new, well established suburb near Kinlyside that harbours rare species.
Cat Containment suburbs
Being a cat owner is enjoyable and rewarding however brings with it responsibilities.
As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your cat is happy and healthy and is not negatively impacting the community in any way.
An ACT study revealed domestic cats are responsible for killing a total of 67 different species of birds and animals. You can reduce the risk to native wildlife by keeping your cat indoors, particularly between sunset and sunrise and by putting a bell on your cat’s collar to provide a warning to other animals.
Cat containment areas in the ACT
A cat containment area can be declared in a suburb, or area of a suburb, if there is a serious nature conservation threat as a result of cat activities. The ACT Government pursuant to Section 81 of the Domestic Animals Act 2000, has declared the following areas to be cat containment areas:
- Bonner
- Crace
- Coombs
- Denman Prospect
- Forde
- Lawson
- Molonglo
- Moncrieff
- Wright
- The Fair at Watson
Throsby was announced as a new cat containment area on Monday 20 April 2015. Cat containment legislation will also be effective in Jacka from 1 January 2017 .
A map showing cat containment areas is also available. Residents within cat containment areas are required to keep their cats confined to their premises at all times.
V & M’s stage 2 cat enclosure
As you can see V & M are animal lovers
Stage One of their cat enclosure was a very large 7 metres long and 4 metres wide as shown in Galley 6, but Stage Two is a massive 13 metres long and 4 metres wide which now covers the rest of the back garden.
This is what V & M have to say “people come over and they are enthralled at the enclosure- we cannot stop telling them how you guys send us stuff all nicely labelled with painstakingly drawn instructions..so we are doing our bit and we are happy that the cats are in the enclosure about 80% of the time.Cheers,V
2017 ACT cat containment laws
The ACT government’s cat containment laws have fallen behind the release of new suburbs, leaving pet owners in many areas having to build enclosures in the future, or risk having their roaming cat locked up.
Since its introduction in 2000, legislation has been refined to protect rare animals in the bush with 24 hours a day containment, but some residents are moving to new suburbs nearby, unaware of their obligations.
The ACT Conservation Council says residents should be told before buying into new suburbs that they will be subject to the containment laws, which are aimed at protecting native birds, lizards and frogs.
Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury has declared Moncrieff and Jacka as the latest cat containment suburbs, and is about to write to Jacka residents to say they have until January 1, 2017, to act. Mr Rattenbury says between 100 and 200 homes in Jacka could be subject to the legislation, as well as new homes in the future.
“It would be unreasonable to declare cat containment with immediate effect for an existing suburb,” Mr Rattenbury said. “People should not suddenly be in a situation where their cat is illegally roaming because the government changed the law overnight.”
Mr Rattenbury said the entire Molonglo area had not been declared a cat containment area because some suburb boundaries were still being defined. But the Conservation Council says declarations can be made using strategic assessment maps.
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ACT director Clare Henderson said suburbs should be declared earlier. “We have had to lobby case by case for a declaration of suburb, but it is policy; they should all be declared as early as possible before suburbs are named and land sold. In Forde and Bonner the declarations were used as a positive selling point.”
The council says former Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur’s comments in 2011 made clear the Greens policy that new outer residential areas should be compulsory cat containment areas and there should be retro-fitting in areas where properties adjoin nature reserves. Making this government policy would give people clarity and certainty.
“New suburbs being planned and built right now which should be clear cat containment areas such as Lawson, the whole of Molonglo – not suburb by suburb – the future part of Holt, Kenny, Throsby and all other suburbs which are adjacent to natural areas,” Ms Le Couteur had said.
Mr Rattenbury said a breakdown in communication had been overcome between the Land Development Agency, which releases and markets new suburbs, and his department. But he could not specify a declaration date for Casey, a new, well established suburb near Kinlyside that harbours rare species.
Cat Containment suburbs
Being a cat owner is enjoyable and rewarding however brings with it responsibilities.
As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your cat is happy and healthy and is not negatively impacting the community in any way.
An ACT study revealed domestic cats are responsible for killing a total of 67 different species of birds and animals. You can reduce the risk to native wildlife by keeping your cat indoors, particularly between sunset and sunrise and by putting a bell on your cat’s collar to provide a warning to other animals.
Cat containment areas in the ACT
A cat containment area can be declared in a suburb, or area of a suburb, if there is a serious nature conservation threat as a result of cat activities. The ACT Government pursuant to Section 81 of the Domestic Animals Act 2000, has declared the following areas to be cat containment areas:
Throsby was announced as a new cat containment area on Monday 20 April 2015. Cat containment legislation will also be effective in Jacka from 1 January 2017 .
A map showing cat containment areas is also available. Residents within cat containment areas are required to keep their cats confined to their premises at all times.
This may look like a small area but Ajax thinks it’s great.
This may look like a small area but Ajax thinks it’s great.
Tassie cat enclosure
“We now have 99% of the netting installed.
Just need to finish off the zip and tidy up the excess edges.
Our cat has been out enjoying his freedom.
Both Jude and I have enjoyed putting it up.”
Four very happy cats
“I had a few issues as it’s a difficult site, however, the final cat enclosure is great and I have four very happy cats, Thanks again”
Scooter’s new cat enclosure
“The cat enclosure is done and looks good.
Scooter is happy to be outside again and we are happy he’s safe, thanks”
Julie & Chris
Fergus’s new cat enclosure
“Fergus loves it. He’ outside more than inside now (love his sunbaking time)” A.M. Aspley QLD
Jiji & Captain in Tassie
“Cat run installed successfully! It all went together well and looks great. Very neat and tidy. Jiji and Captain are loving being outside and watching the world go by”
Possum on the net
We were having lunch on our deck when this lost possum appeared climbing along the end cat netting.
She was obviously lost and not one of our regular Possums
We could see she had very bad cataracts and was probably completely blind.
She was hungry so we gave here a banana.
A wonderful lady from Sushine Coast Animal Rescue arrived with a carrier to collect he and take her to their vet.
We can now claim our enclosures are not only cat escape proof but also possum entry proof, she tried very hard to get in.
A Tribute to Bob 2001 – 2016
This is a scan of a photo of the kitten we were given by the Cat Clinic in February 2001.
He was found living under a car, was covered in grease and had intestinal worms from scavanging food.
The Cat Clinic treated his intestinal worms and cleaned him up quite a bit, but he still had some grease on him in this photo.
Bob grew up from a tiny stray kitten to be a magnificent cat.
Below is Bob aged about 8
It would be hard to find a better example of the Chinchilla breed.
Unfortunately at 15 years old, Bob’s health deteriorated and we sent him on his way early in 2016.