The department will be closed from Monday 23 December 2024 and will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2025. We will respond to queries in the new year. Best wishes for a safe and happy festive season.
Information about the Cat Act 2011.
Initial scoping for the review of the Cat Act 2011 has now begun.
The review will take a holistic and integrated approach to issues related to pet cats, rather than examining individual issues in isolation.
The review may consider how laws and policies related to companion animals may be implemented effectively, rather than focusing on the specific wording or construction of individual laws.
As the review progresses, feedback will be sought from the community and stakeholders to ensure any reforms align with community expectations.
The Cat Act 2011 (the Act) requires the identification, registration and sterilisation of domestic cats, and gives local governments the power to administer and enforce the legislation. The legislation enables better management of the unwanted impacts of cats on the community and the environment, as well as encouraging responsible cat ownership.
The Act is not only about responsible pet ownership it also aims to reduce the number of unwanted cats in the community, and the number of cats that are euthanised each year. Microchipping and registration will also assists in returning your cat to its home if it becomes lost.
All cats that have reached 6 months of age are required to be:
Your cat will be required to wear a collar and registration tag to ensure they can be easily identified and returned to you if they become lost.
Even if you only want to breed one litter from your cat, you are considered a cat breeder. To become a cat breeder, you must apply for a permit from your local government.
If you want to give away or sell a cat, you must ensure the cat is microchipped and sterilised prior to transfer. If the cat cannot be sterilised due to its young age, you must provide a prepaid sterilisation voucher to the new owner.
You will need to contact your local government to find out if they have introduced a local law to limit the numbers of cats you can own.
If your local government introduces a local law limiting cat numbers and you already own more cats than it allows, you may keep the cats you currently own. You will not be able to buy or acquire any new cats until the number you own falls below the maximum permitted in the local law.
Kittens are not required to be microchipped until they reach 6 months of age, however they cannot be sold or transferred to a new owner until they have been microchipped.
If your cat cannot receive a microchip for medical reasons, you may obtain an exemption certificate from a registered vet. Exemption certificates can only be issued for cats that are 6 months or older. These exemptions cannot be issued to allow the sale of non-microchipped kittens.
The legislation applies to cats of all ages. However, your vet can issue an exemption if sterilising your cat is likely to have a negative impact on your cat’s health and welfare.
Once your cat is registered with your local government, you will be issued with a registration certificate, as well as a valid registration tag which your cat is required to wear on its collar. Cat registration tags change in colour each year.
The current colours are:
It is an offence for your cat not to wear a collar with the registration tag and you can be given an on-the-spot fine of $200 for failure to do so.
Pensioners are entitled to receive a 50% discount on registration fees. Pensioners should discuss this with their local government when registering their cat.