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A new 24-hour cat curfew will start October 2023 across the Surf Coast Shire
All cats within the Surf Coast Shire will need to be confined to their owner’s premises from 30 September 2023, under a 24-hour cat curfew adopted by Council.
The 24-hour curfew will replace the current one, which requires cats in urban-zoned areas to be securely confined to the owner’s premises between 8pm and 6am.
Surf Coast Shire Council adopted the revised cat curfew - formally known as a cat confinement order - at its March Council meeting. The curfew requires all cats within the municipality to be confined at all times to the owner's premises unless the cat is appropriately restrained.
The revised cat curfew will come into effect on 30 September 2023. At this time, the previous cat confinement order of 20 February 2001 is revoked. Find out more.
Background
As a part of the implementation of the Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2022-25, Council reviewed cat curfews across the shire.
The rules required cats in urban areas to be securely confined to the owner's premises, between 8pm to 6am. There were no restrictions in rural areas. A survey in 2022 asked for views on whether to keep the rules, or consider changes.
Thanks to the almost 700 people who filled in the survey. The survey has now closed and survey input(PDF, 228KB) has helped inform Council's adoption of a 24-hour cat curfew from 30 September 2023. Find out more.
Some key facts:
-There are currently 924 cats registered as domestic pets across the Surf Coast Shire. ·
- 50% of our registrations for cats are in Torquay ward. ·
- Council receives very low numbers of complaints about cats, 58 in 2021 ·
- Council has just purchased 12 more cat cages that residents can use at no charge. ·
- We acknowledge that free-roaming cats can have a negative impact on native wildlife and neighbouring pets.
Project Background
Our Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2022-25 helps guide how people, dogs and cats in the Surf Coast Shire can live together in safety and harmony.
Community members contributed to the development of the plan in July 2021 via a survey and provided feedback during public exhibition of the draft plan in December 2021.
One of the actions from the plan is for Council to work with the community to consider a cat curfew.