Marion Council is considering introducing laws to confine cats to their owner’s property from 9pm to 7am daily in order to protect wildlife and limit the nuisance behaviour of cats.

So Council makes a decision while understanding the community’s views, you are invited to provide feedback by Monday, 27 May on these proposed changes.

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?

Council is proposing changes to laws on cats that would:

• Create an offence of “cat wandering at large”. This means cats cannot wander from their owner’s property during times determined by Council.

Council has given in-principle support for this to be from 9pm to 7am daily

THIS WOULD INVOLVE:

• Residents requesting cages from Council to help catch wandering cats on their property
• Giving Council’s Community Safety Inspectors the powers to seize and detain cats. If owners cannot be identified, cats could be impounded at the RSPCA
• Fines of $187.50 could be issued to owners who don’t keep their cats indoors during the proposed times
• Removing the microchipping and desexing requirements in By-Law no.6 as they are now contained in the Dog and Cat Management Act

The proposed variation is called By-law no. 7 and is to be read in conjunction with the existing Cats By-law no. 6.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Please contact Team Leader Community Safety Luke Manuel on 8375 6600 or luke.manuel@marion.sa.gov.au