Stray and nuisance cats
Stray and nuisance cats can:
- attack, injure and kill native wildlife
- cause damage to garden beds by defecating and digging
- create health concerns in children's sandpits
- cause excessive noise due to fighting with owned or stray cats
- call and cry when seeking a mate
- spray on front doors, mats and other areas.
Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, cats are not allowed to trespass on private property without permission.
If you find a cat entering or roaming on your property
We recommend discussing the matter with the cat owner as they may not be aware that their cat is roaming. You can also print out and drop a notification letter in the owner’s letterbox to let them know their cat is entering your property.
If the matter is not resolved by contacting your neighbour
You can request to hire a cat trap through Council.
Hire a cat trap from Council
Council hires cat traps to residents from Knox City Council only.
There is no fee to hire the cat trap, only a refundable deposit is required.
The cat traps cannot be used for trapping any other animal.
Hiring conditions
- You must pay a refundable $80 deposit when you lodge your request.
- We will fully refund the deposit when you return the cat trap in good working condition.
- Approved refunds can take up to 14 days to process. We will return the funds using your original payment method.
- You can borrow a cat trap for a maximum of 14 days.
- It may take up to 8 weeks to receive a cat trap, depending on availability.
- Cat collection is between Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 12 pm (excluding public holidays). No collections will be made after 12 pm.
- Only Knox City Council residents can hire a cat trap.
Using a cat trap
You need to humanely trap the cat and give it to an authorised Council officer or take it to the Council's pound at Animal Aid in Coldstream as soon as possible.
Do not dump the cat. It is an offence to abandon a cat under the Domestic Animals Act 1994.
Any trap you use must be an approved, humane trap with a step place trigger.
Hook-operated traps must not be used for any purpose. Using this type of trap is an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
Find out more about how to humanely trap cats.
If your cat is handed in to Council
If your cat is currently registered with Council, we will make all reasonable attempts to reunite you with your cat.
If we are unable to identify the cat's owner, or if the cat is not registered with Council, it will be taken to Council's pound at Animal Aid in Coldstream.
To reclaim your cat from the pound, you will need to pay a reclaim fee and your cat will also need to be registered and desexed.
You will receive a fine if your cat is unregistered or not wearing a Council tag.
Need help?
Contact us and we will get back to you.
Or call our Community Laws department on 9298 8000.
