The Melbourne City Council has voted in favor of implementing a cat curfew, mandating that all pet cats be kept indoors from 8pm to 6am. This decision aims to safeguard local wildlife and address concerns over the increasing number of wandering cats.
In addition to the curfew, the council has introduced a ban on cats in the city’s waterways and major parks at all times, unless the cats are restrained and accompanied by their owner. The move is part of a broader effort to prevent the predation of small animals by cats, which include native species, and to reduce the impact of free-roaming felines on local ecosystems.
A review by the Future Melbourne Committee highlighted the importance of protecting parks, gardens, and waterways that are home to diverse wildlife, which are increasingly at risk due to predation by roaming cats. The report points out that cats are responsible for killing millions of mammals, birds, and reptiles annually, with their hunting significantly impacting local species.
Despite the new regulations, Councillor Andrew Rowse expressed concerns that the curfew doesn’t go far enough. He argued that while the law may reduce the number of nocturnal kills, it does little to address the overall issue of cats killing wildlife during the day. Rowse stated, “Day or night curfews only change the type of animal caught and killed, but not the overall kill rates.”
The new cat curfew law is set to come into effect in October.
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