Drop-in sessions to educate community on revised cat curfew

CAT owners in the Surf Coast Shire are invited to attend drop-in sessions this month to help transition to the new 24-hour cat curfew, which starts on September 30.

The August 19 drop-in sessions will be held by the shire’s Ranger Services team at the Torquay Farmers Market (9.30-10.30am), Anglesea Community House (11.30am-12.30pm) and the Winchelsea Shire Hall (2-3pm).

The shire’s revised cat curfew orders will require all cats within the municipality to be confined at all times to their owner’s residence unless the cat is appropriately restrained.

Cr Rose Hodge said the coming sessions would give locals more information on how modifications can be made to their properties and to their cat’s behaviour, so they can comply with the 24-hour curfew.

“The revised curfew is likely to reduce registered cats’ impact on neighbours and their pets, wildlife and becoming a nuisance.

“The drop-in sessions will support a smooth transition to the updated curfew, offering cat owners the chance to ask our Rangers questions and to find out more about what you can do to prevent your cat from roaming outside your premises.

“While these might seem like significant steps, it’s important to note that cat owners already have a legal obligation to ensure their cat doesn’t trespass on other people’s properties.”

The shire’s previous cat curfew required cats in urban zones to be only securely confined to the owner’s premises from 8pm to 6am. There was no curfew in rural-zoned areas.

To learn more about the revised cat curfew, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/CatCurfew