Tasmanian cat laws haven’t driven enough killing, need review

Since December 2009, it has been illegal to sell an unmicrochipped cat in Tasmania, breed one if you’re not a registered breeder, or own a cat who is undesexed older than six months of age.

Despite these draconian restrictions on pet owners, and the RSPCA Tasmania promise that cats laws would “see fewer feral cats and unwanted kittens coming through shelters”, cat laws in the state are being criticised for simply not instigating enough killing.

A review into cat management laws, which have been slammed by a Northern farmer for failing to eradicate feral cats, will be undertaken in the next 12 months.
…
Under the legislation, councils have an opt-in role  and can enforce the act or designate areas where cats can be destroyed, trapped or seized  for a period of time.
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Invasive Species Branch worker Craig Elliott said problems with the act had been raised by stakeholders and a full review would be conducted.

 

Despite Councils being given state government grants to “raise awareness of cat management, buy cat traps and build holding yards to store seized or trapped cats”, cat law supporters say not enough Councils are taking an active role in killing cats, and that:

… poison baits should be laid in problem cat areas.

Nice, right?

Invasive Species Branch worker Craig Elliott said:

… the act had major flaws but ultimately failed because it did not require cat owners to control and keep their pets on their property.”

and that:

… the issue of requiring cat owners to contain cats on their property, similar to dog ownership, would be raised with the community as part of the review.

 

Which is code for, once we have containment, it is open season on free-roaming cats.

Certainly, don’t expect the RSPCA to leap to the defence of the animals they’ve sold out with this cat-killing legislation as containment laws are their ultimate goal too.

Shame about all the dead cats.

 

See also: New cat laws in Tasmania failing to live up to hype