Australians have more pet cats than ever before — more than 5 million in total. With the growing number, expectations on pet owners are shifting.
Many cat owners are now voluntarily keeping their cats indoors or in secure runs, and local governments mandate it in some areas. But most pet cats in Australia still roam local streets and gardens.
Broader adoption of keeping cats safe at home would have large benefits for cat welfare, human health, local wildlife and even the economy. So, should pet owners be required to keep their pets contained to their property, as dogs are?
We put that question to thousands of people in a national survey in late 2023, and recently published the results.
We found most people support requiring owners to contain cats. Just one in 12 people (8 per cent) are opposed. The time might be right for nationwide change in how we manage our pet cats.
Keeping pet cats indoors protects native animals, especially birds and reptiles during the daytime and mammals like possums during the night.(ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch)
Local councils are embracing cat containment
From November 1, Geelong City Council will join a fast-growing group of local governments in urban and regional areas that require pet cats to be securely contained 24 hours a day.
More than a third of local councils in Australia now require cats to be contained overnight or 24 hours a day. Most are in the ACT and Victoria.
Given how good cats are at climbing and jumping, containing cats usually requires keeping them indoors or in secure runs.
The main reasons cited by local governments for these regulations are:
Improving pet welfare: contained cats live longer and healthier lives with fewer vet bills because they are protected from traumatic injuries from car accidents, dog attacks and cat fights, infections, diseases and other misadventures.
Saving wildlife: four out of five cats allowed outside will hunt and kill an average of two to three animals per week. With millions of pet cats in Australia, each year this adds up to 6,000–11,000 animals killed in our suburbs per square kilometre and 323 million native animals killed nationally. Night curfews only protect nocturnal species such as possums.
Reducing nuisance to neighbours: containment results in less disturbance from cat fights and prevents the neighbour's cat killing the birds and lizards living in your backyard or nearby park, which many community members value.
The public health toll of roaming cats
Another major benefit is less talked about. Stopping pet cats from roaming would greatly reduce rates of cat-borne diseases.
Several diseases which could not exist without cats can be passed to humans. These cost Australia more than $6 billion a year based on costs of medical care, lost income and other related expenses.
