A new bill is hoping to improve Tasmania's cat management and to reduce the potential negative impacts of domestic, stray and feral cats on the community, agriculture and wildlife.
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The state government's Cat Management Amendment Bill 2019 had its first reading in the Lower House yesterday.
It strengthens existing provisions from the 2009 act and makes it clearer to interpret and implement with the changes identified through recommendations in the Tasmanian Cat Management Plan 2017-2022.
The key amendments include compulsory desexing and microchipping for cats from four months old, a maximum of four cats per property without needing a permit and a requirement of all cats being reclaimed to be microchipped and desexed.
In other news:
The amendments also include the state government's registration of cat breeders switching to a permit system instead, improvements to support landholders to control cats on their property and a removal of care agreement.
The amendments are the result of extensive consultation with industry, local government, animal welfare groups, environmental and agriculture stakeholders through the TCM reference group and other processes.
There will be a 12-month transition period for some of the amendments to allow cat owners time to adjust to the changes.
Local government will also continue to be able make by-laws relating to cat management if they choose to.
For more information on the changes to the Cat Management Act 2009, go to https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/invasive-species/cat-management-in-tasmania/.
