Cat Information

Responsible Cat Ownership

  • Keep your cat confined to your property, especially at night.
  • Ensure your cat is easily identifiable with a collar and a name tag.
  • Microchip your cat.
  • Sterilise your cat.
  • Vaccinate your cat.


Cat Laws

The West Australian state government introduced the Cat Act 2011 to encourage responsible cat ownership, reduce the number of unwanted cats in the community and the number of cats euthanized.

Cats over the age of 6 months must be registered to a person over the age of 18 and be microchipped and sterilised.

Cats must wear a registration tag.

Registration of a cat can be for one year, three years or for the life of the cat. As with dog registrations run to 31st October, regardless of date of registration.

A person must not breed cats unless the person is an approved cat breeder. Registered cat breeders are exempt from the requirements to sterilise cats.

Please find frequently asked questions relating to the Cat Laws, please click here.


Registration

All cats aged over 6 months should be registered. For Registration Fees, please click here.

Cats must be microchipped and sterilised (unless exempt) before cat owners can apply to register their cat.

Cat registrations renewals can be paid at the Shire.


Microchipping

All cats must be identified by a microchip. This ensures that a lost or injured cat can be easily returned to its owner and enables Rangers to easily determine if a cat is a pet, a stray or a feral animal.


Sterilisation

The owner of a cat that has reached six months of age must ensure that the cat is sterilised by a veterinarian, unless:

  • a certificate has been given by a veterinarian stating that to sterilise the cat may adversely affect the health and welfare of the cat; or
  • the cat is owned by an approved cat breeder for the purpose of breeding.

If an unsterilised cat is being transferred from one owner to another, the seller must provide the purchaser with a voucher for a veterinarian to sterilise the cat (even if the cat is being given away).


Transfer of Ownership

Before you give or sell your cat to another person, you need to make sure that the cat is microchipped and sterilised.

If the cat is currently registered with the Shire, you need to notify the Shire by completing a (transfer form).


Cats Deceased or Transferred

If you wish to cancel your cat's registration, please contact the Shire. Please note that refunds are not issued for cancellation of cat registrations.


Nuisance Cats

Under current state legislation it is not illegal for cats to stray onto private property.

The Ranger is able to trap cats for the purpose of identifying the cat’s owner and checking for compliance with the Cat Act 2011, which requires cats to be registered, microchipped and sterilised (unless exempt).

If you are experiencing issues with cats coming on to your property, the Shire recommends that, if you know where the cat is from, you contact the cat’s owner and let them know of your concerns first then contact the Ranger if the problem persists.