🚨 Cat curfew breaches continue

A Knox resident has aired his concerns about stray cats in the area, with figures indicating cat owners are continuing to breach a 24-hour cat curfew which was put into place in April 2022.

🐾 Stray cat issue raised in January council meeting

During public question time at Knox Council’s council meeting on January 28, local resident Jeremy Valley asked what council was doing to combat the high number of unregistered and unvaccinated stray cats he had seen roaming his neighbourhood.

🗣️ “My dogs have almost gotten a hold of some of these roaming cats while on walks, and I worry that they could transmit fleas or other diseases,” said Valley.

Knox Council director of city liveability Matt Kelleher said the council carried out work under its Domestic Animal Management Plan to promote responsible animal ownership.

💬 “Any residents that are being impacted by stray, feral, unowned or nuisance cats can make a complaint to council, which will be investigated,” he said.

“They may also request a cat trap from council to assist with managing the issue.

“Council is actively addressing non-compliance with 28 infringements and 10 cautions issued to cat owners during 2024.”

⚖️ Keep your cats inside or pay the price

Under the 24-hour cat curfew enforced in April 2022, all cats must be securely confined to an owner’s premises at all times.

A fine may apply for not keeping your cat on your property, with a first offence fine of $91.

Mr Kelleher said council had prosecuted the owner of a large number of cats in a property in Scoresby for serious offences under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, with council awaiting a verdict in the Magistrates’ Court on Friday 7th February.

“If the court finds the owner guilty of the offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, council has the option to make an application for a banning order to prohibit the owner from owning or keeping cats on their property,” he said.

“Council has been actively working with the property owner and our pound services throughout the course of this prosecution process.”

💵 Record fine for illegal cat breeding in Bayswater

Knox Council successfully prosecuted an unregistered cat breeding and import/export business operating from a Bayswater residential property last year, resulting in a fine of $105,000 - the largest fine awarded for animal related offences in council’s history.