Keeping your cats happy at home
The Town of East Fremantle encourages cat owners to keep their cats enclosed either on their property or in doors for the benefit of your cat’s health and safety.
Cats that roam outside of their property may face many dangers, including:
- Traffic – even the most street-smart cat can come into danger of a local car.
- Predators – roaming dogs and other wildlife can be a threat to your cats’ safety. Not to mention, cats are a predator to our precious wildlife.
- Disease and parasites – from fleas, FIV, to ticks and parasites – the outside world is full of threats to your furry pal.
- Getting lost or stolen – with Christmas around the corner, your beautiful feline may end up as someone else’s prized present.
Keeping cats inside protects their health, extends their lifespan (and saves your wallet), and still gives them plenty of ways to explore and play.
Here are a few things you can do to create a stimulating environment that allows them to engage in natural behaviours:
- Install rollers or netting on fences to stop your cat from jumping or climbing out of the backyard
- Build a catio
- Close gaps in and under fences
The WA Feral Cat Working Group’s Cat Owner Education Program provides a lot of useful information on why cats are best kept safe at home and tips to help your cat live a long, happy and healthy life at home. -
Cat Act 2011
Under the Cat Act 2011, cats must be microchipped, registered with the Local Government in which they reside and must wear and authorised and valid Local Government registration tag. Failure to meet all three requirements will result in a fine.
Impounded cats
While the Town doesn’t have a policy to trap cats, under the Cat Act 2011, the Town’s Rangers are authorised to impound a cat that is in a public place or deemed to be the subject of an offence against the Cat Act.
Obstructing or threatening a Ranger while impounding a cat may result in a fine of $5,000.
Cats impounded in the Town are taken to the South Perth Animal Care Facility in Como.
The facility is equipped with heating and cooling, play equipment for cats, along with fresh linen and quality food.
If your cat has been impounded, you are required to pay an impound and sustenance fee prior to its departure from the facility.
If your cat isn’t registered and microchipped, it is also a requirement that it will be registered and microchipped before being discharged. If the cat is registered, you will need to provide proof upon pick up.
Contact the South Perth Animal Care Facility via (08) 9474 0777 or visit their website for impound and sustenance fees and opening times.
Other useful links
Cats and wildlife information brochure
Cat registrations and renewals