Cat Laws

Western Australian Cat Law from November 2013

Background

For several decades, Cat Haven lobbied the State Government to implement a law dealing with cat welfare. In 2011, the State Government signalled its willingness to go ahead with a cat bill. Along with other animal welfare organisations, Cat Haven made several submissions to Parliament during the debate of the bill. In December 2011, the Cat Act was finally passed.

What does it mean for me?

The law was implemented in two phases, giving cat owners in WA a long lead time to get their cats ready. The first phase came into effect on 1 November 2012; the second phase, on 1 November 2013. The law requires all domestic cats six months and older to be:

• sterilised
• microchipped
• wearing a tag in a public place
• registered with the local council it is kept in

Cat owners found not to be compliant with these requirements may face fines of up to $5000.

How can Cat Haven help?

Cat Haven endeavours to provide cat owners in WA with the services that will help them comply with the new law. We can sometimes offer special prices for concession card holders - please contact our reception on 9442 3600 you have any questions.

Questions?

Please call us on (08) 9442 3600 for information on services such as sterilisation or microchipping. Should you require information regarding the cat laws, you can contact the Department of Local Government on (08) 6552 1500.

For help with subsidised sterilisations you can contact the Ruby Benjamin Foundation. Tel:  08 9291 7773 Email: mpmonty@bigpond.com

Cat Haven occasionally often offers discounted sterilisation prices - please contact our vet clinic if you have any queries. 

Why do I need to sterilise my cat?

The most obvious reason for sterilising cats is that it eliminates unwanted pregnancies. Cat Haven receives thousands of homeless kittens every year simply because owners have not sterilised their cats.

A female can come on heat as early as four months of age, so it is imperative that you get your cat sterilised as early as possible.

Additionally, from 1 November 2013 sterilisation of cats six months and older is compulsory. Your cat also needs to be microchipped.

Unsterilised females have a much greater risk of life-threatening uterine infections as well as uterine, ovarian and mammary cancer.

Unsterilised males can become aggressive towards their owners and will get into fights with other males as they search for females. The frequent fights expose them to serious infectious diseases and abscesses, which will ultimately result in higher vet bills and a shorter lifespan.

Both unsterilised male and female cats have a tendency to spray, wander off your property and are more likely to get lost or hit by a car.

Why do I need to microchip my cat?

Microchipping your cat means that if your cat gets lost or picked up by a council ranger, your cat can be quickly and easily identified and returned safely to you asap. Cat Haven received over 6500 unwanted or lost cats last year with over a third having to be euthanized and only 116 lost cats being reclaimed by their owners. If your cat isn't microchipped, there is a strong possibility that it will be rehomed if it cannot be identified and this is a devastating outcome for you.

Microchipping also reduces the amount of time your cat may have to spend in a pound or shelter if it is lost as they can contact you very quickly.

Microchipping is a simple, painless procedure where a small electronic chip is placed under your cat's skin in the shoulder area. The microchip is registered and it holds all your contact information, which can be accessed easily by a vet using a special scanner.