Nuisance and wandering cats
Roaming cats can:
- attack and kill native wildlife
- wander onto a neighbour's property
- cause damage to garden beds by defecating
- create health concerns in children's sandpits
- cause undue noise due to fighting with owned or stray cats
- call and cry when seeking a mate
- spray on front doors, mats and other areas.
Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, cats are not allowed to trespass on private property without permission.
1. If you find a cat wandering on your property
We recommend:
- discussing the matter with the cat owner. The owner may not be aware that their cat is wandering.
- printing out and dropping a notification letter in the cat owner’s letterbox to let them know their cat is entering your property.
2. If the matter is not resolved by contacting your neighbour
You can request a cat trap to trap cats humanely for collection by Council.
- We supply cat traps so you can safely collect nuisance or wandering cats.
- You need to humanely trap the cat and give it to an authorised Council officer or take it to the Council's pound at Animal Aid, Coldstream as soon as practical.
- Do not dump the cat in the wild. It is an offence to abandon a cat under the Domestic Animals Act.
Using a cat trap
Any trap you use must be an approved, humane trap with a step place trigger.
Hook-operated traps must not be used for any purpose and constitutes an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
Find out more about how to humanely trap cats.
If you require further assistance
- Contact us and we will get back to you.
- Or call our Community Laws department on 9298 8000.
Complaint about your cat
Our Council officers will attempt to inform you if someone makes a complaint about your cat. If we are unable to identify a cat’s owner, the cat may be taken to the Council pound at Animal Aid, Coldstream.
If your cat is handed in to Council
During business hours we will make all reasonable attempts to reunite you with your cat.
If we are unable to identify you as the owner, or if the cat is unregistered, we will take it to the Council pound at Animal Aid, Coldstream.
To reclaim your cat from the pound you will need to pay a reclaim fee and your cat will also need to be registered and desexed.
You will receive a fine if your cat is unregistered or not wearing a Council tag.
Need help?
Contact us and we will get back to you.
Or call our Community Laws department on 9298 8000.
