Cat Control

Surf Coast Shire's cat curfew is in force. Cats in the entire Shire, except the rural zone, must be confined to the owners' premises between 8pm and 6am daily.

Council has put these measures in place in response to community concern about the negative environmental impact of cats on native animals and the nuisance value of wandering animals for neighbouring households.

The curfew does not apply in those parts of the shire zoned as "rural" in the planning scheme. This recognised the practical problems of defining boundaries when attempting to confine a cat on a farm. Farmers have also argued that their cats played a necessary role in controlling vermin.

Under the curfew the council can seize cats found at large in any public area or outside their owner's property between 8pm and 6am. A cat seized and not reclaimed within eight days may be destroyed.

Under the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animal Act, cats at large can cost their owners a fee of 1 penalty unit ($100) for a first offence and 3 penaly units ($300) for further infringements.

All domestic cats should be registered and wear a registration tag. "This will assist in returning lost and wandering cats to their owners.