The walls are closing in on Perth cats, with another council banning them from more areas.
The City of South Perth’s Cats Local Law 2024 proposes to ban cats from 27 areas, including Neil McDougall Park, Manning Bushland, Millers Pool, lakes in Sir James Mitchell Park, Curtin Primary School Bushland and Collier Park Golf Course.
A council report said those areas had been identified as sensitive for wildlife.
Cats found in them will be seized and removed under the new law.
Cat laws in other councils such as the cities of Canning, Kalamunda and Fremantle and Town of Bassendean include cat-prohibited areas.
South Perth staff did not pursue other councils’ attempts to restrict cats from all public areas, which were rejected by the WA Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation.
Councils that have tried this tactic include the Town of Bassendean and the cities of Bayswater and Kalamunda.
“The restriction in movement of cats within a district and the definition of nuisance are known to be areas of concern for the Committee,” a South Perth report said.
“While it may be the desire of council and the community to restrict cats in ways that are considered appropriate to protect wildlife, the city is limited in its local law.”
Cat owners who commit an offence under the proposed law — including having a cat in a prohibited area — could be fined up to $5000 and $500 per day for ongoing offences.
The proposed law will be be advertised for public comment.
The City of Bayswater will also release its proposed Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 for public comment.
The law has gone through several versions over the past couple of years after the city tried to include a clause to ban uncontrolled cats from public areas.
It has now adopted part of the Shire of Northam’s cat law — which was gazetted in 2019 — which requires cat owners to ensure that if their cat is in a public place it is under “effective control”.
Brickwork Lakes has also been added as a cat-prohibited area.
At the city’s June 18 briefing session, Maylands resident David Dyke said cats were beautiful pets but also predators and the community wanted the laws to happen.
“There’s many other shires that are eagerly watching,” he said.