Ipswich City Council

Cats

Almost 30% of Australian homes have a cat. Cats are wonderful companions, but along with the positives they can have negative impacts on our community and environment.

Although there is presently no requirement to register your cat in the Ipswich City Council area, there are a number of responsibilities you have as a cat owner. It is important that you understand these responsibilities and the laws that apply to the keeping of cats.

What are my Responsibilities Under the Local Law?

As a responsible cat owner you should:

provide an adequate supply of water and food for your cat;
dispose of all faeces and urine in a nuisance free manner;
vaccinate your cats; and
ensure your cats do not cause a nuisance to the community.

How Many Cats May I Keep?

You may keep two(2) cats on your property. A kitten is considered a cat at 3 months of age.

What If I Want To Keep More Than 2 Cats?

Domestic Cat Permits, if approved, allow you to keep 3-4 cats as pets. The conditions of these permits require you to be able to demonstrate the ability to confine all your cats to your property. The cats must be desexed.

Restricted Cattery Permits are available to those persons who wish to keep up to 4 cats for breeding purposes. There are a number of conditions to comply with this permit.

Cattery Permits allow you to keep more than 4 cats. Conditions also apply to these permits.

The Planning and Development Department of Council may also have relevant requirements for catteries, phone 07 3810 6888.

What Are My Responsibilities to the Community and Environment?

Highly adaptable and flexible, cats fit into domestic life easily. They are however, predators by nature and will go looking for mates, defend territory and hunt wildlife, particularly during the dusk to dawn period. It is during this time that your cat is most active and vulnerable if outside. If you follow the following tips for responsible cat ownership, not only will you and your cat reap the benefits, but you will also minimise potential disruption to the community and surrounding environment.

Prevent wandering:

Wandering cats are vulnerable to disease and attacks by other animals. They are also likely to attack other animals. Even when confined to your property, you should attach one or more bells to your cat's collar to alert wildlife. Roaming cats can become lost and many are never returned to their owners. Often cats cause disputes and anxiety between neighbours by causing dogs to bark, by fighting with other cats or by defacating in neighbouring gardens. This is not fair to your neighbours. How you prevent your cat from wandering is up to you as long as you keep your cat safe and clean. The RSPCA can provide advice on confining your cat.

Confine your cat at night:

To minimise disruption to your neighbours, always keep your cat confined at night. Cats kept inside generally live much longer that cats that are allowed outside. Around 80% of accidents involving cats occur at night. Confining your cat at night will minimise the risk of injury and prevent it from fighting. It will also prevent your cat from wandering into neighbouring properties and ensures it cannot kill wildlife that is active during the night.

How to confine your cat at night:

To assist your cat in becoming accustomed to being inside at night:

Skip the morning feed and offer the food at night.
Lock the cat inside your home in a room or in a garage/shed that is dry and warm and has good ventilation.
Offer a comfortable sleeping area, kitty litter and water.
You may wish to provide stimulation for your cat such as a scratching pole, toys or an enclosed run.
Enclosed runs are a great way of allowing your cat the best of both worlds. It can still go outside but it cannot escape your property.

If you persist with this new routine, the cat will be accustomed to it quickly.

Identification tags:

You do not have to register cats kept in the Ipswich City Council area, so you do not receive a registration tag. However it is still a good idea to get a tag with your phone number on it so that in the event your cat is lost or is taken to the pound, there is a greater chance your cat will be returned to you.

Desex your cat:

Whether you have a male or female cat, you should have your cat desexed if you do not intend breeding. Female cats that are not desexed will produce kittens unless they're confined for most of the breeding season (spring to autumn). Unless you're prepared to look after kittens or find them a home, don't let your cat have a litter. Contact your local veterinarian to discuss desexing your cat.

Dispose of cat faeces and urine in a nuisance free manner:

The smell of cat faeces and urine can be quite offensive. Ensure that you regularly collect your cat's faeces from your property and dispose of it responsibly. You can place it in the wheelie bin if it is wrapped. Encourage your cats to use kitty litter for urination rather than the house yard. This confines the smell to one spot and the kitty litter can be removed once a day to reduce odour. Do not bury litter in the garden. Wrap it and place it in the wheelie bin.

Ensure regular vet checks and worming:

Just like dogs, cats require regular worming for intestinal worms and heartworm. Regular health checks and vaccinations by your local veterinarian will ensure your cat leads a healthy long life with you and your family.

Last Updated 16 Oct 2007 |

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