Council will join forces with the RSPCA and the NSW Government to encourage and enable cat-owners to desex their pets and prevent them from roaming in local neighbourhoods.
The not-for-profit organisation has launched its Keeping Cats Safe at Home project, funded by the NSW Government, which urges cat-owners to keep their pets indoors to reduce the animal's impact on the environment and improve their wellbeing.
Shoalhaven is among 30 councils in NSW partnering with the RSPCA to educate the community about the social and environmental benefits of keeping cats contained and equip them with the knowledge and skills to ensure their pets can thrive indoors.
"Currently, there is no legal requirement in NSW for cats to be kept indoors yet we know that roaming domestic and stray cats are among the greatest threats to our wildlife, including many of our precious native species," said Mayor Patricia White.
"Equally as important is the livelihoods and wellbeing of our pets. It is distressing for all when cats are unintentionally injured or killed while roaming the streets," Cr White said.
"I applaud the RSPCA and the NSW Government for their work in this space and implore cat owners to consider ways to help improve the amenity of our neighbourhoods and protect their pets, by keeping them safe at home," she said.
Any cat can transition to an indoor lifestyle, and the program highlights the various ways feline pets can be kept safe and enriched at home, including using outdoor enclosures or escape-proof netting.
The 18-month social media campaign will also educate residents about the importance of desexing their pets to minimise nuisance behaviours like aggression, and accidental breeding.
The RSPCA will be offering free desexing for microchipped cats as part of the program. Free microchipping will also be offered at the time of desexing.
Residents with a non-desexed cat are required to pay an annual permit that costs $99 or they may risk attracting a fine of more than $400.
This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.
