Cats

Cats make wonderful pets and bring pleasure and company to many families. However, if they’re not responsibly cared for and left to roam, they can:

• Create a noise nuisance by fighting over territory or seeking a mate;
• Spray their urine to mark their territory and may bury their faeces in the gardens of neighbours;
• Get injured by cars or fights with other animals;
• Have unwanted litters; and
• Attack native wildlife.

We are committed to protecting our significant environmental areas. In some cases these areas connect to residential subdivisions where cats are not permitted to roam. Properties within these subdivisions have a requirement to keep cats contained within the property at all times. If your property is one of these, this will be noted on your property title.

Microchipping and registration

Cats must be microchipped and registered so if they do happen to get out of your property, they can be easily returned to you.

De-sexing

De-sexing helps cats to live a healthy and long life, reduce injury, exposure to disease, aggressive behaviour in males, roaming, spraying and noise nuisance.

Vaccinations

When you purchase a cat ensure you obtain a vaccination certificate to ensure its vaccinations are up to date. Cats should also have a check up with a vet once a year to ensure they are healthy and worming and vaccinations are current.

Keeping your cat safely contained

Cats are important companion animals in the community. They are wonderful pets and bring pleasure and company to many families. However, it is important to understand that in areas where residential properties interact with significant environmental areas AlburyCity requires cats to be contained to their property at all times.

Significant environmental areas contain threatened species and native wildlife; cats that roam pose a risk to this wildlife. By containing your cat to your property, it will not only protect wildlife but it will also reduce the risk of your cat:

• Becoming lost or impounded by Council Rangers;
• Being injured or killed in a traffic accident;
• Contracting disease, ticks and fleas;
• Fighting, spraying and defecating on other peoples property.

Cats can be safely and happily contained to the property by keeping them indoors, by cat proofing the fence or by erecting cat enclosures.

Keeping your cat indoors

Most cats adapt well to living indoors, particularly from an early age. It is important to provide an interesting indoor environment for cats to prevent them from becoming bored or developing behavioural problems. You can keep your cat happy by providing:

• Plenty of toys for amusement and play;
• High resting places such as a window ledge or shelf;
• Scratching posts;
• Enclosed spaces such as a cardboard box or an igloo bed for them to hide;
• A sunny spot to lie in;
• Vegetation to nibble, sniff a nd rub against such as cat mint and catnip;
• Daily play sessions to help fulfil their hunting and chasing instincts.

Cat proof your fence

Cat proofing your fence provides your cat with secure access to your entire yard. Before you start with fence alterations, observe where and how your cat gets out of your yard. This may expose escape points that you were not previously aware. If need be, trim trees and remove any objects leaning against the fence. Larger tree trunks may need to be banded with Colo rbond steel or polycarbonate. Ensure you seal gaps under the fence, in cluding gates. Lock gates that aren't used often and fit self-closing latches to other gates. To prevent cats from scaling your fence, you can attach lengths of two inch PVC piping along the top of the fence.

Netting

An option to cat proof your yard is by creating a netbarrier along the top of your fence with inward facing overhangs. Ensure the netting is floppy as this will make your cat feel unstable and unsafe if they do try to climb it. Holes in the netting should be small enough to prevent your cat from becoming caught.

Fence paddles

Another option to cat proof your fence is by using a commercial product such as the Oscillot Fencing System. Rolling paddles are attache d along the top of your existing fence, if your cat tries to scale the fence the paddles spin preventing it from gaining traction.

Attached enclosures

An enclosure attached to your house gives your cat access to its favourite spots inside while still being able to enjoy the outdoors safely. An existing area, such as a section between the house and fence, veranda or patio can be utilised to create an enclosure, accessed by a cat door or window opening. This can be achieved by using a lightweight support system and covering it with netting. Another option is to use a commercially bought cage, maze or tunnel. They are often sold as modules so you can add to your cat enclosure as you decide or as your budget allows.

Free-standing enclosures

You can purchase a free standing enclosure from a retailer or design your own. Free-standing enclosures allow your cat to move around outdoors safely. They will need a warm dry bed, shelter and shade, as well as access to clean fresh water and a litter tray that is located away from sleeping and eating areas. Incorporate platforms at different heights and climbing structures for your cat to enjoy. When you take your cat to and from the enclosure ensure it cannot escape. Some people harness their cats or use a cat carry cage.

Always check with Council before making changes to your property to ensure you abide by local laws.

Environmental enrichment

Ensures a cat is kept happy and provides an interesting environment which fulfils its physical, mental and social needs.