To combat the serious impact of both feral and pet cats on Australian wildlife, new government proposals could introduce limits on the number of cats owned per household. The cat threat abatement plan is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, following agreement in principle from state and territory leaders. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is set to unveil further details on the initiative aimed at reducing the population of feral cats, which are known to wreak havoc on Australia’s native species.
Research from the Australian National University suggests that roaming pet cats alone kill around 546 million animals annually, including 323 million native species. The country is also home to approximately 5.6 million feral cats, which contribute significantly to the decline of native mammals, birds, reptiles, and other wildlife. Minister Plibersek emphasised the urgent need for responsible cat ownership, stating, “They are one of the main reasons Australia is the mammal extinction capital of the world.”
While the proposed regulations will not be mandatory for state governments, they will encourage collaboration with the federal government to mitigate the damage caused by cats. Potential new rules could include night-time curfews, desexing and registration requirements, limits on household cat numbers, and even the establishment of cat-free zones in wildlife-rich areas. This initiative reflects a growing commitment to protecting Australia’s unique wildlife heritage.
