Did you know that an average of 500 cats are impounded on the Southern Downs each year and only 7.5 per cent are reunited with their owners?
While we love and appreciate our felines as valued pets across the region, these statistics have prompted Southern Downs Regional Council to seek public consultation on its draft Cat Management Strategy 2022-2024.
The draft strategy aims to provide a framework for Council and the community to manage all cats in order to keep domestic cats healthy and safe, protect the region’s biodiversity and wildlife, reduce complaints and nuisance to the community and reduce pest management costs for Council.
Southern Downs Councillor Stephen Tancred said that while domestic cats make great companions, without appropriate management, their impact on native wildlife can be just as devastating as feral cats.
“A recent inquiry into the problem of feral and domestic cats in Australia by the Commonwealth Government found that cats kill an estimated 1.6 billion native animals each year,” Councillor Tancred said.
“Everyone deserves the company of a loyal pet, whether it be a dog, a cat, a bird or a turtle.
But Council is concerned that good, well-kept domestic cats are given a bad name by stray or feral cats that roam and breed unmonitored.
“Unfortunately low microchipping rates and incorrect information on microchips hinders Council’s capacity to reunite cats with their rightful owners.
While the re-homing rates at our pounds are very high, the large number of cats ending up in our pounds places significant pressure on local animal welfare groups.
There are also a significant number of feral cats ending up in our pounds that are required to be euthanised.
There must be better ways to address these issues.
“The draft strategy opens the door to conversations about responsible cat ownership and how we can better address feline management.
“As an example, domestic cat owners could consider options for keeping their furry friends safe and limiting their impact on wildlife with affordable technologies such as cat-proof fences, cat net run enclosures and electronic collars.
“De-sexing, micro-chipping and registering can also be effective controls in managing cats and are also explored in detail in the draft.
“Council invites the community to review the draft Cat Management Strategy and provide valuable feedback so we can formalise a dedicated plan to reduce the problems caused by all cats – domestic, stray and feral.”
The strategy has three goals:
Deliver effective, efficient and innovative cat management services
Encourage responsible pet ownership
Reduce detrimental public and environmental nuisances from cats
Implementation of the final Cat Management Strategy will be guided by a series of actions aimed at addressing each of the three goals via communication and education, innovation and technology along with incentives, collaboration and regulation.
A copy of the draft Cat Management Strategy 2022-2024 is available at www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/have-your-say/cat-management-strategy or from Council’s administration centres in Warwick and Stanthorpe.
Please send written submissions to mail@sdrc.qld.gov.au before 5 pm Friday 12 August 2022.
