Cats

As a responsible cat owner you have an obligation to care for the health and well being of your pet. You also have a duty to ensure your cat’s activities do not interfere with your neighbours or the environment.
 
In urban and rural residential areas, only two cats can be kept at any premises. Registration of cats is not required within the region however, they must be kept on the property to avoid causing a nuisance.

Identifying your cat
While there are no requirements for cats to be identified, for the care of your animal it is highly suggested pets carry some form of identification tag. Ensure that your cat always wears a collar and identification tag bearing your address or telephone number. Your cat can also be identified through a veterinary tattoo or microchip implant.

Should your cat become lost contact a Service Centre, check with neighbours, your local veterinary clinics, or the refuge.

Diseases
Part of being a responsible pet owner is to ensure that your cat remains healthy. When you purchase or acquire a cat, ask for its vaccination certificate. If you are unsure  whether it has been vaccinated, take it to your local vet for a health check. All cats require booster vaccinations every twelve months and need to be regularly checked for parasites.
 
An array of diseases are specific to companion animals and need to be understood and managed if we are to live in close proximity to them. Microscopic bacteria and parasites (along with a variety of worms) can be passed onto humans causing anything from discomfort, to significant internal damage. Cats can also carry fleas that exist by thriving on your pet’s blood. While the fleas are taking the blood meal, they are injecting bacteria and parasites back into your pet, resulting in internal multiplication that may cause illness.

Infection can also come from cat litter. When cats defecate, the faeces contain parasite’s eggs which can cause illness. If the defecation occurs in a sand pit, the parasite is spread throughout the area and can be touched by children. If children do not wash their hands properly before eating, the parasite can be transferred to the food and then eaten by your child. The growth of the parasite can lead to your child becoming sick.
     
What to do if you are experiencing problems with cats
Identify who owns the cat and discuss your concerns directly with the owner. In most cases this works extremely well.
If you cannot get resolution with the direct approach or you are unaware of who owns the cat, a solution may be to trap the cat and take it to Council. All trapped cats need to be treated humanely.

If your neighbour is unapproachable, or does not agree that a problem exists, you should contact Council for further advice.