Council will ‘not engage in cat-trapping’

Feline fanciers in Broome can breathe a sigh of relief – rangers will not go cat hunting when new laws swing into action later this year.

The second and final phase of the Cat Act 2011 will be complete by November 1 requiring all domestic moggies six months and older to be:

■ Sterilised.

■ Microchipped.

■Wear a tag in a public place.

■ Registered with the local council

where they live.

Cat owners found not to be compliant may face fines of up to $5000.

The Shire of Broome has been given a $2500 grant available under the Act to buy equipment like cat traps and protective equipment.

Shire president Graeme Campbell said the council had no intention of seeking out cats.

“There will be requirements under the legislation relating to how they are dealt with,” he said.

“We are not suggesting at this stage that we are going to engage on a cat-trapping exercise or otherwise.”

Broome has historically had a problem with stray and feral cats and dogs. Mr Campbell admitted the new laws would be difficult to police because of a restricted amount of council staff.

“The real key issue for council in this matter is resourcing the Cat Act,” he said.

“We have enough difficulty getting the resources available to deal with the dog issues in town before we start on cat issues.”

Mr Campbell said the council would receive the grant as “a soft approach” by the Department of Local Government as “an introductory incentive to get the shire to engage in the cat legislation”.

“There appears to be a reticence across local government to get heavily involved in this because of the enormous costs that will be involved,” he said.

“I will make the point that council is not anti-cat but, like dogs, programs of sterilisation and micro-chipping are very encouraged and that will help alleviate a lot of the issues.

“We further acknowledge that the cost of licensing dogs, the cost of sterilisation, and the cost of micro- chipping is such that some members of the community can’t afford to do so.

“We further acknowledge the value of pets for people, particularly as company for elderly people.”