NSW is now the only place in Australia where the Government has not acted to introduce enforceable laws to keep domestic cats safely contained. Every year, roaming pet cats kill hundreds of millions of native animals across the country - birds, reptiles, frogs and small mammals that should be thriving in our suburbs and bushland.

We have introduced the Companion Animals Amendment (Control of Cats) Bill 2025 to fix this. The Bill will:

• Create a clear duty for cat owners to keep their pets contained to their property.
• Empower councils to make and enforce reasonable orders to prevent cats from escaping.
• Protect vulnerable people through fair and compassionate enforcement.
• Help stop the flow of lost and abandoned pets into the feral cat population.

This is about responsibility, coexistence and care. Keeping cats safely contained protects wildlife, prevents suffering, and helps reduce the need for lethal feral control programs. Cat containment is a simple and humane reform supported by the RSPCA, the Biodiversity Council, WIRES, the Invasive Species Council, Local Government NSW, and the veterinary community.

Laws are already in place across Victoria, the ACT, Queensland, Tasmania and soon Western Australia - and they’re working. Contained cats live longer, healthier lives and their owners enjoy peace of mind knowing they’re safe from cars, disease and injury.

The NSW Government has said it’s reviewing the Companion Animals Act. But we don’t need to wait - our Bill is ready to go. It’s fair, balanced and backed by science and community support.

Tell the Premier and Ministers Tara Moriarty (Local Government) and Ron Hoenig (Local Government) that you support our Bill and want them to bring NSW into line with the rest of Australia.