The State’s first comprehensive Cat Management Plan addressing domestic, stray and feral cats in Tasmania has been released by the Hodgman Liberal Government.
Cats play a valuable and important social role within the Tasmanian community as much loved companion pets, however the problems of stray and feral cats also needs to be managed.
The Plan provides Tasmania with a clear strategy to support responsible cat ownership and address the impacts feral cats have on the environment and primary industries including harming native wildlife and spreading disease.
This Plan balances all these areas by recognising cat management is a shared responsibility across different levels of government and the community.
The Plan targets improving our knowledge of feral cats, responsible cat ownership, increased community awareness and involvement, minimising the impacts on agriculture and the environment, and clearer roles and responsibilities for those involved in cat management.
Amendments proposed in the Plan to strengthen and make cat management legislation more workable include:
Under the Plan local government can also make by-laws relating to cat management if they choose to.
The Tasmanian Government has backed the Plan with $1.44 million over the next four years to support the implementation in partnership with local government.
I also acknowledge the valuable input from the Cat Management Reference Group which consisted of representatives from the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA), Local Government Association of Tasmania, RSPCA, Ten Lives Cat Centre, Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Australian Veterinarian Association, Cat Association of Tasmania, Landcare Tasmania, Regional Natural Resource Management Groups and the University of Tasmania.
The Cat Management Plan 2017-2022 is available on the DPIPWE website via www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au .
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