The Allan Labor Government is improving the health and wellbeing of domestic cats and protecting our unique native wildlife with the launch of the state's first cat management strategy.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos today launched the 10 year cat management strategy which will improve responsible ownership and education programs, and increase desexing rates.
The strategy also addresses the challenges of unowned and semi-owned cats, which make up most of the cat intake at shelters. It will look at ways to promote full and responsible ownership of these cats and target programs to capture, desex and rehome.
Feral cat management is another key focus. The strategy will improve information sharing between councils with successful cat management strategies and deliver more flexible registration options.
Importantly, the strategy recognises that cat management is a shared responsibility between councils, the State Government, community members and animal welfare organisations.
Cats are much loved companions and family members, but growing cat populations bring challenges. These include a threat to native wildlife and an increasing demand on councils and shelters.
Victoria is home to more than 227,000 registered cats, along with a significant number of unregistered, unowned or feral cats in Victoria.
To read the cat management strategy, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals.
As stated by Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence
"We know how much Victorians love their pet cats. This strategy will help promote responsible cat ownership, while also protecting our environment and native wildlife from cats."
"This is Victoria's first ever cat management strategy, designed to improve the welfare of our domestic cat population while reducing the burden on rescue shelters and finding wild cats a new safe home."
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"Developed with expert advice, this Strategy will help better safeguard our native wildlife while helping more cats to find a new loving home."
