In WA there is a single main resource for caring for stray cats; The Cat Haven. The RSPCA offers only limited owner surrenders and few councils have powers to impound cats or facilities to do so. Currently if residents want help with cats on their property, the council’s only advice is to offer them a cat trap so they can trap the cat and take it to the vet or the Cat Haven.
Despite the lack of infrastructure supporting the ‘catch and kill’ model, the Cat Haven is said to kill up to 4,000 unwanted cats and kittens each year. A new Bill introduced in July is set to expand council powers and has cat ‘advocates’ excited about its potential;
“If it all goes well, initially we might see a leap in euthanasia, in the first 12 months when people refuse to get their cats sterilised.”
Roz Robinson – Cat Haven
Including compulsory desexing, registration, microchipping, and the requirement for cats to wear tags, the legislation is set to be some of the strongest in the country and obviously follows in the successful footsteps of other legislation of its kind…
Well, actually not so much;
“There have been a number of studies done, one in Mt Isa, in Queensland, another in the ACT and in the US. They show that animals have been dumped and then when the legislation is brought in, that number has increased. The follow on is that there will be more feral animals.”
Alison Driver from the Cat Owners Association of WA
The RSPCA is supporting the new laws, adding that only by making them even more draconian can the full effect of the bulk council cat cull be realised;
The RSPCA’s Tim Mayne also advocates for keeping cats inside the walls of the home and recommended that this should be part of the new Cat Bill.
So what are the council’s attitude to cats?
Belmont chief executive Stuart Cole said the City did not have a policy for capturing stray cats, nor the responsibility or resources to do so.
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“However the City recommends the use of an approved pest control company to resolve these issues.”Town of Victoria Park chief executive Arthur Kryon said the Town had no powers to capture or impound cats.
“It is hoped that this will change when the State Government passes the new cat laws,” he said.
Cat groups want councils to have expanded powers to impound and kill cats. Councils want expanded powers to impounded kill cats. Seems no one is advocating for anything other than killing cats in WA.
