Keeping Cats In The Australian Capital Territory

• Microchipping  
• De-sexing
• Sexually Entire Permits
• Keeping four or more cats
• Cat curfew area
• Cat identification
• Cat registration
• Lost and found cats
• Legislation
• Responsible cat ownership factsheet

Cats are one of the most popular domestic companion animals and they form an integral part of our society.

Cat policy in the ACT is aimed at ensuring the rights of domestic cats and their owners as well as providing the means by which cats are responsibly owned and managed so that they might not cause a nuisance or danger to the wider community and the environment.

An ACT study reveals 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 cats collar to provide a warning to other animals.

Micro-chipping

All cats in the ACT must be micro-chipped. It is an offence under the Domestic Animal Act 2000 to keep a cat which is not micro-chipped. Cats can be micro-chipped at Domestic Animal Services (DAS) or at your local vets or at the RSPCA.

De-sexing

It is an strict liability offence under the Domestic Animals Act 2000 to own a sexually entire cat.

Except if:

• The cat is less than 3 months
• cat was born before 21 June 2001; or
• keeper of the cat holds a sexually entire permit issued by the Registrar of DAS.

Infringement notices can be issued for the above offence.

De-sexing is essential to reduce the number of neglected or abandoned cats.

Sexually Entire Permits

A permit to keep a cat sexual entire can be obtained from DAS if the Registrar is satisfied that:

• animal is kept for breeding or used, bred or brought for show; or
• it would be detrimental to the health of the animal if it were to be de-sexed.

An application form can be obtained from DAS were it must be lodged. A fee applies.

Keeping four or more Cats

Persons wishing to keep four or more cats must make an application under Section 84B of the Domestic Animals Act 2000. Application form can be obtained from DAS. A fee for a multiple cats licence is payable if the licence is granted.

Cat curfew areas in the ACT

A cat curfew 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. Four areas in the ACT are currently declared cat curfew areas. The ACT Government pursuant to Section 81 of the Domestic Animals Act 2000, has declared the following areas to be cat curfew areas:

• Bonner
• Crace
• Coombs
• Forde
• Lawson
• Mulligan’s Flat
• Wright
• ‘The Fair at Watson’ development, North Watson
•  Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve

Residents within cat curfew areas are required to keep their cats confined to their premises for 24 hours a day. This can be achieved by confining cats to the house, or providing a purpose built cat enclosure on the premises. Domestic Animals Services (DAS) Rangers are able to seize cats found in a declared area. An infringement notice can be issued to the keeper or carer of a cat that is not complying with the cat curfew requirements.

For more information call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

Cat identification

Cats do need to wear identification so that they can be returned to their owner if found. Cats can be identified by a collar and tag that identifies the owners contact number or address.

Cat registration

Cats are not required to be registered.

Lost and found cats

Lost cats details can be listed on the DAS web page at: Lost Pets

Found cats details can be listed on the DAS web page at: Found Pets

Also contact the RSPCA as all cats found in the ACT are housed at their facilities.

Legislation

Further information relating to the keeping of cats in the ACT can be found at: www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/default.asp
Domestic Animals Act 2000
Animal Welfare Act 1992