How are you feline about a cat curfew in Maribyrnong?
Published on 20 May 2024
Council understands anyone with a feline friend considers them a family member and wants to do the right thing to keep them safe and happy.
The problem is, while cats are social animals, they also like to hunt. And when they are allowed to roam research shows they are more at risk of injury, catching diseases, going missing or attacking wildlife.
Mayor, Cr Cuc Lam, said Council acknowledges the majority of cat owners in our municipality tend to keep their pets close, but officers are still being called out hundreds of times a year when cats create issues especially for neighbours.
“With that in mind, we are seeking to understand our community’s appetite for a cat curfew, and what that might look like,” she said. “If you agree cats shouldn’t be allowed to roam, would you support a 24/7 curfew or just overnight – or are there other things, including community education programs, you think we should consider to support better cat management within our City.”
In 2023, there were over 3000 registered cats in Maribyrnong and in the same year, Council’s Animal Management Team responded to 435 callout related to cat issues and picked up 399 stray cats and kittens.
While dogs are required to be confined to an owner’s property in line with Victorian legislation, responsibility for determining what any confinement of cats might look like, sits with local councils.
Feedback from this conversation will help inform a proposal on cat management in Maribyrnong including whether the current approach – to encourage but not require cats to be kept within an owner’s property – remains relevant.
One-fifth of the 79 councils in Victoria are currently considering cat curfews. Over one-third have already introduced a dusk-to-dawn curfew and 10 have introduced a 24/7 cat curfew.
Join the conversation by midnight Sunday 30 June at yourcityyourvoice.com.au/cat-curfew
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