A strict ban on domestic cats could save the nation billions – and two-thirds of the country say they would support it
A nationwide ban could be imposed on pet owners, which could save the country billions of dollars – and a new survey shows most Australians would support it.
The rules could mean domestic cats are not allowed outside and owners could face heavy fines if they don’t keep them indoors permanently.
Some local councils and the entire ACT are already imposing the ban, while others such as Geelong and the City of Melbourne are in the process of doing so – but there are new calls for a blanket ban nationwide.
A survey published by the Biodiversity Council in March this year found that only one in twelve people, or eight percent of the population, were against such a ban.
In addition to saving millions of native animals that would otherwise be killed each year by domestic and feral cats, the ban could also reduce the impact of cat diseases transmitted to humans, which cost the economy an estimated $6 billion a year.
The City of Melbourne is holding community consultations on whether to ban cat owners from letting their cats outside
A growing number of councils are imposing curfews on cats or rules requiring cats to be kept indoors, but this could become a national law – and research shows most people support the idea
Feral and domestic cats allowed outdoors pose one of the biggest threats to native wildlife
The survey by researchers at Monash University asked more than 3,400 people whether they would support a policy that ‘requires cat owners to keep their cats on their property’.
“We found that a clear majority (66 percent) of people support cat containment,” researcher Jaana Dielenberg said this week.
‘A remarkably small proportion, about one in twelve people (8 percent), is against it.
‘The remaining 26 percent were ambivalent and chose neither for nor against.’
A draft threat response plan released by the Environment Ministry in December proposed uniform rules across the country for the containment of domestic cats, along with a complete ban on domestic cats from areas of high wildlife value.
The rules would protect wildlife and help reduce the number of feral cats.
But in addition, Ms Dielenberg said it would also reduce the incidence of several diseases that humans can contract from cats.
‘These cost Australia more than $6 billion a year, based on the cost of medical care, lost income and other related expenses.
‘The most common of these diseases is toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can be transmitted to humans but must complete its life cycle in cats.
‘Australian studies have reported human infection rates of between 22 percent and 66 percent of the community.’
The infection can cause illness, affect pregnancy, and in rare cases be fatal.
The majority of infected people do not get sick, but there are still thousands of hospital admissions each year and it is believed that the infection, which does not go away but lies dormant, can affect brain function.
Studies have linked cat-borne infections to increased rates of car accidents, mental health problems and self-harm.
Cat-borne diseases such as toxoplasmosis are surprisingly common and can cause complications with brain function and pregnancy
More than a third of local councils in Australia now require cats to be cared for overnight or 24 hours a day.
Although councils are responsible for pet issues, state and territory laws have a major influence on what councils can and cannot do.
In New South Wales and Western Australia, state laws prevent local councils from requiring the containment of cats except in specific circumstances, such as in declared food preparation areas in NSW.
Statewide or national bans would solve these problems.
“Changing the law in NSW to implement 24/7 cat control rules is a simple step that would have major benefits for our native wildlife,” said Jack Gough, Advocacy Manager at the Invasive Species Council.
“Councils across the state are crying out for this amendment so they can protect their local bushland from the huge impact of roaming domestic cats.
‘The law in NSW is in stark contrast to the ACT which requires residents to restrain their cats, or in Victoria where almost 50 per cent of councils have introduced cat containment rules.’
A wild cat has been pictured in Tasmania after hunting a native marsupial
This map shows the distribution of millions of feral cats across Australia. They are more common in the outback and are abundant in parts of South Africa
On average, a wandering domestic cat kills 186 reptiles, birds and mammals per year, while a feral cat kills 748.
When that’s scaled up to Australia’s millions of cats, it’s a huge problem, with cats playing a leading role in the majority of Australia’s 34 mammal extinctions since colonization.
There are currently 110 native mammals listed as endangered in Australia.
An example is the kowari, a small marsupial once common in the Australian outback, but now found only in a small part of the desert in southwestern Queensland and northwestern South Africa.
Threats to the kowari population are mainly feral cats and foxes, along with livestock farming that reduces ground cover and tramples dens.
It is estimated that only about 1,200 remain in the wild. The government changed its status from vulnerable to endangered in November.
The kowari, a native marsupial found in inland Australia, has recently been upgraded to an endangered species, largely thanks to feral cats
Ms Dielenberg, who is also communications and engagement manager for the Biodiversity Council, said that with the level of support for a blanket cat control rule in the community, ‘the time may well be right for national change in the way we manage our domestic cats. ‘
“Wider acceptance of keeping cats safely at home would have major benefits for cat welfare, human health, local wildlife and even the economy,” she said.
‘The requirement that domestic cats must be contained is a good policy choice. But to realize the full benefits, we also need to invest in effective communications for communities, provide discounts to control cats and ensure rules are enforced.”