Keeping cats as pets
Many people live near areas of bush, and treasure the native wildlife that lives near them. If you own a pet cat, there are a few simple things you can do to reduce the impact of your cat on wildlife:
Always keep your cat indoors at night
Night-time is when many small native mammals are active and at risk from cat attacks.
Consider keeping your cat indoors, or within your property, at all times
Domestic cats that aren't allowed to roam are also more likely to be healthier and live longer, because they don't get into fights or get injured by vehicles.
It's easy to teach a new kitten to be happy indoors. Provide plenty of toys, a comfortable bed and a clean litter tray. Even adult cats can be trained to live indoors, given the right incentives.
If it's not possible to keep your cat indoors at all times, you may be able to build or buy an outdoor enclosure. There are a growing number of commercially available products that keep cats confined to a particular part of the house, such as the verandah or garden.
Get your cat desexed
Not only does this prevent unwanted kittens, but desexed cats also usually live longer and are nicer to live with! Your local vet or animal welfare organisation can give you advice about getting your cat desexed.
Don't dump unwanted cats or kittens in the bush
If your cat does have kittens that you don't want, take them to an animal welfare organisation or your local council impounding facility. Dumping cats or kittens in the bush is bad for the environment, the wildlife and the cats themselves.
Because of their impact on native wildlife, all cats are prohibited from national parks and other areas managed by the NPWS. Your local council may also have declared wildlife protection areas from which cats are prohibited. Contact your local NPWS office or local council for details.
Make sure your cat always has enough fresh food and water
If your cat is well fed, it is less likely to hunt other animals for food.
Check your cat into a cattery when you go away
If you do this, your cat will be looked after properly and won't get lost or stray.
Make sure your cat has identification!
Make sure you identify your cat, using a collar and a tag with your contact phone number engraved on it. Teaching kittens to accept a collar and tag is easier than when the cat is adult. Make sure the collar is elasticized or has a weak point that breaks in case the collar gets caught or snagged.
Putting several bells on a cat's collar may help to reduce the cat's ability to hunt. Commercial collars with bells and elastic are available from most pet supply outlets.
Under the Companion Animals Act, cats born in NSW after July 1999, and any cat that has changed owners since that time, must be microchipped and registered for life. Contact your local council for details.
Don't feed stray cats
You should also try to clear away any food available, like open garbage bins, that will encourage stray cats.
More information
- Find out more about pet cats on the Department of Local Government companion animals website.