By KATH GANNAWAY
Mixed reaction to 24-hour cat curfews
WILDLIFE protection and cat welfare groups have applauded new 24-hour cat containment laws across Yarra Ranges.
But, as news spread of the vote by Yarra Ranges Council to make it mandatory for cats to be kept on their owner’s property 24/7, the fur is flying on social media between wildlife advocates, cat owners who support the move and cat owners who say it is unnecessary and unenforceable.
The cat curfew was endorsed unanimously by Yarra Ranges councillors, based on community consultation which identified concerns about cats allowed to wander.
Those concerns were about environmental and amenity issues with the preference for a 24-hour curfew out-numbering a night-time curfew only by 135 to 91, with eight responses not in favour of any curfew.
The Sherbrook Lyrebird Study Group is among the strongest supporters for the new rules, saying cats are wreaking havoc on lyrebirds and other wildlife in Sherbrook Forest and across the hills region.
Former National Park ranges and SLSG president John Lloyd said domestic and feral cats were responsible for killing not only birds but also reptiles and small marsupials.
Menzies Creek resident Anita Walker contacted the Mail saying she was excited that the councillors had had the courage to pass a much-needed law.
While her main concern is wildlife, she said cat-owners should have the same responsibilities as other pet owners.
“Every week, I see a notice about a cat that’s gone missing, so it’s not good for their safety and they are no different from dog owners in that they have an introduced species as a pet.
“You wouldn’t let cattle, chooks, horses or dogs wander, so why should cats be any different.”
Healesville Sanctuary director Glen Holland said cat and dog attacks were the second highest cause of the thousands of animal injuries they saw every year.
“Most cat and dog owners are responsible; people just need to be aware of the wildlife in their garden,” Mr Holland said.
Sanctuary vet nurse and keeper Ian Elton is at the coal face of cat attack on wildlife and cites Rosie, a feisty rosella who is being treated after being saved from the jaws of a domestic cat, as a very good reason for the law he also applauds.
“People say cats won’t hunt; well, they will, it’s their natural instinct and you can’t take that instinct out of the cat, but you can control what your cat does,” he said.
Michael Rodd of Cat Kingdom Enclosures in Wandin has been catering to cat-owners need to keep their cats on their property.
He said the main reason people came to him was for the safety of their cats, concerned about road accidents and attack by other cats and dogs, , or because of neighbourhood problems associated with their cats roaming.
When the Mail asked cat-owners for their views on our Facebook page, many felt it was a cruel and unwarranted punishment on them and their cats, but the majority were in favour – even if they saw problems with putting it into practice.
Stacey May supported a night curfew, but said 24 hours was ridiculous and cruel. She predicted a huge increase in the number of cats dumped at animal shelters.
A rise in rats and mice was another unintended consequence flagged by several cat-owners, the cost of runs, and others who work long hours and whose cats are outdoor types were concerned about how to change life-long habits – theirs and their cats.
Yarra Ranges Council has said it will start enforcing the new cat curfew in six months, allowing cat-owners time to make the changes.
They pointed out that the curfew applies to the owner’s property, not only their house.
Information on how to confine cats is available at www.depi.vic.gov.au/pets/cats , and brochures are available at Council’s Community Links.
