AUSSIE STATE’S ‘LANDMARK’ MOVE AS FRUSTRATED COUNCILS PUSH FOR TOUGHER CAT RESTRICTIONS

The issue of free-roaming cats and the environmental damage they cause has become a flashpoint across Australia, with local councils increasingly calling for stricter rules on pet ownership.

In Perth, the City of Bayswater recently attempted to introduce a local law that would allow fines for residents whose cats wander far from home. But this week, the Western Australian Parliament struck down the proposal, arguing that its provisions went beyond the powers granted under the state’s Cat Act 2011.

Bayswater is not alone — according to local media, it is one of 23 WA councils whose cat containment proposals have been rejected by the Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation over the past decade. The repeated knockbacks have fuelled frustration among local governments eager to better manage domestic cats and their impact on native wildlife.

State Government to Update Cat Laws

Despite the latest rejection, the WA Government announced on Wednesday that it will move to amend the Cat Act, paving the way for councils to create and enforce their own containment laws. The update could lead to new penalties for owners who allow their cats to roam.

The move signals a potential shift in how cat ownership is regulated in Western Australia — and a win for councils pushing for stronger protections for local ecosystems.

The Western Australian Government has committed to strengthening local cat laws, a move welcomed by conservationists and local councils alike.

In a statement online, Minister for Local Government Hannah Beazley said the current Cat Act 2011 already gives councils “important tools” to manage cats — including banning them from certain public places, addressing nuisance behaviour, and enforcing requirements for sterilisation, microchipping, and registration.

However, work is now underway to expand those powers. Beazley confirmed that legislation to amend the Cat Act is in development, with the bill expected to be introduced in 2026.

“If passed, the reforms will provide a framework for local laws promoting responsible cat ownership — including cat containment — empowering individual councils to engage with their communities on these issues,” she said.

Plea for NSW to follow suit as WA’s pet cat move praised

The Invasive Species Council (ISC) welcomed the announcement, calling it a “landmark win” for native wildlife and responsible pet ownership.

“This is a landmark win for wildlife and for responsible pet ownership in Western Australia,” said ISC Engagement Director Imogen Ebsworth. “We commend the Cook Government for showing leadership and finally committing to give councils the tools they’ve been crying out for to keep pet cats and native animals safe.”

The ISC estimates that around 546 million animals are killed each year across Australia by roaming pet cats. One such example is the 2019 incident in Mandurah, where a single roaming cat was linked to the deaths of nearly 50 threatened fairy terns.

Ebsworth said containment reforms will allow WA councils to protect endangered species such as numbats, skinks, and terns, while also keeping cats safer from car accidents, disease, and early death.

“According to the RSPCA, cats kept safely at home can live up to 10 years longer,” she noted.

“The quicker this change to the law is passed, the more wildlife will be saved. It’s only a minor amendment — the government shouldn’t wait until 2026.”

NSW Lags Behind

While WA is pushing forward, New South Wales remains the only Australian state that does not give local councils the power to enforce cat containment.

Last month, a parliamentary inquiry into the issue in NSW stopped short of recommending mandatory containment laws, saying the state “may not be ready” for such measures.

The ISC labelled the findings “disappointing”.

“With WA stepping up, NSW has been left dead last — and millions of native animals are paying the price,” Ebsworth said. “Keeping cats at home is the single best thing owners can do for their pets and the environment.”

ISC Chief Executive Jack Gough called on the NSW Government to act swiftly.

“The premier must step up and make these changes,” he said.