Victoria’s first cat management strategy has recently been launched to improve the health and wellbeing of domestic cats while protecting the state’s unique native wildlife.
The 10 year strategy will improve responsible ownership and education programs, and increase desexing rates.
It also addresses the challenges of unowned and semi-owned cats, which make up most of the cat intake at shelters.
It will look at ways to promote full and responsible ownership of these cats and target programs to capture, desex and rehome.
Feral cat management is another key focus — the strategy will improve information sharing between councils with successful cat management strategies and deliver more flexible registration options.
Importantly, the strategy recognises that cat management is a shared responsibility between councils, the state government, community members and animal welfare organisations.
Cats are much loved companions and family members, but growing cat populations bring challenges.
These include a threat to native wildlife and an increasing demand on councils and shelters.
Victoria is home to more than 227,000 registered cats, along with a significant number of unregistered, unowned or feral cats in Victoria.
To read the cat management strategy, go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/cats/cat-management-initiatives/victorian-cat-management-strategy
