Council bans cats from roaming the streets and orders pet owners to keep them on a LEASH when outdoors
- Darwin council in the Northern Territory voted for the cat containment policy
- It will be enforced in Muirhead, which is home to Defence Housing Australia
- The law will ban cats from being outside unless they are on a leash or in a cage
A council has banned cats from roaming the streets and has ordered pet owners to keep them on a leash when outdoors.
Darwin council in the Northern Territory has voted in favour of a law proposed by alderman Robin Knox.
The cat containment policy will be enforced in the developing suburb of Muirhead, which is home to many from Defence Housing Australia.
The policy will prohibit cats from being outside of a resident’s property unless they are on a leash or in a cage.
Darwin council in the Northern Territory has voted in favour of a law proposed by alderman Robin Knox (stock photo)
‘Council by-laws require all cats in the municipality to be registered and not to leave the owner’s property unless under effective control (caged or on lead),’ Alderman Knox told NT News.
‘The development of new suburbs provides the opportunity for public education of the application of a cat containment policy and for council to apply the policy from the establishment of the new suburbs.’
Though the new law will not apply to all municipalities, which was initially suggested, alderman Knox wants it to expand to other suburbs.
The ‘cat containment policy’ will be enforced in the developing suburb of Muirhead and is home to many people from Defence Housing Australia (pictured alderman Robin Knox)
Environmental Protection Service NT manager Peter Pitcher said the native wildlife would be disturbed if cats were allowed to freely roam in the suburb.
‘In other places people use cat runs and build cat shelves, just somewhere for your cat to get around inside. There’s not any need for your cat to be outside,’ he said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Darwin council for comment.
It will prohibit cats from being outside of a resident’s property unless they are on a leash or in a cage (stock photo)
A similar law was proposed by the Perth Government in May.
The increase in the number of stray and feral cats in the city prompted the government to consider introducing cat curfews.
This curfew would limit cats to their homes between sunset and sunrise – or it could ban cats from venturing outside altogether.
Local Government Minister David Templeman said the law was proposed so regulation could be up to date.
‘From encouraging responsible pet ownership, keeping the community and other animals safe, reuniting lost pets with their owners to reducing the number of animals that are admitted to shelters and euthanised, the legislation impacts the whole community,’ Mr Templeman told Perth Now.