Cats are a threat to Australian wildlife species

by EcoNetwork Committee

Domestic cat with Spotted dove. Image: Alan Benson

Cats have been implicated in mammal extinctions and threaten more than 100 Australian wildlife species. Local councils currently have no powers to contain a cat.

In November 2024, EcoNetwork wrote a submission to the NSW Government requesting that they allow local council the power to implement 24-hour 7-day cat containment. This would bring NSW into line with almost every other state.

In the Port Stephens LGA, we are aware that cats roam our forested areas and wetlands. Local birdwatchers have noted the decline of bird populations in the Mambo-Wanda Wetlands. Locals have used infrared cameras to photograph cats roaming at night in the precinct.

We are concerned that this biodiverse area, surrounded by homes, is threatened by cat populations.

According to the NSW Scientific Committee, in NSW predation by feral cats has been linked to the disappearance by 1857, of 13 species of mammals and 4 species of birds from the Western Division. Current impacts on native species are most likely in modified, fragmented environments and where alternative prey such as rabbits or house mice fluctuate in abundance.

Currently in NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 allows cats to roam free and it is difficult to enforce requirements as council officers have no powers to apprehend a cat. We urgently need responsible pet ownership, and this starts with clear rules to ensure pet owners keep cats contained to their property to save our native wildlife.

EcoNetwork’s submission requested that the NSW Government amend the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 to not only implement 24/7 cat containment, but also allocate funding for compliance, education, desexing, identification and registration programs. We requested that they should require local government to develop companion animal management plans to protect wildlife, produce resources for responsible pet ownership and make desexing mandatory.

You can read the full submission here.