On 7 December 2022 the Merri-bek council in Victoria was the latest to “see the light” that mandatory cat containment and/or mandatory cat curfews are not effective. Instead, the council is supporting alternative successful approaches and recognise that it is the combination of proactive activities which together will provide the best pay-back for investment.
That is, synergy is best achieved by a blend of reducing the number of cats being born, active conversations with communities, and addressing the impact to wildlife in a program of benefits rather than single projects.
MERRI-BEK COUNCIL MEETING 7 DECEMBER 2022
The agenda and meeting video is available on the council webpage. At this time we are waiting on the meeting minutes to be published.
The Meeri-bek council team and councillors appear to have completed a thorough and intelligent set of analysis and assessments prior to the council meeting on the 7th. This information is included in the Agenda document for the meeting, and commences on page 61, item titled “7.8 Cat Containment Strategy”.
It appears (to be confirmed when the minutes are published) that Merri-bek will be proceeding with:
- free cat desexing (with nil registration costs) in target hotspots,
- education on voluntary cat containment ie encourage and to include “bed time feeding” ie use proactive behaviour changes for cats,
- effectively minimising impacts to wildlife through microtargeting cat desexing (ie where endangered & threatened species are most at risk), and microtargeting strategies for general protection for endangered & threatened wildlife are located such as physical boundary barriers, and
- other strategies/ steps for the semi owned and unowned cats which are to be analysed further.
The Merri-bek next steps include “Implementation of the recommended decision will start with the development of the communications plan and associated communications material” (Merri-bek Agenda document).
BRIEF OVERVIEW FROM JACQUIE RAND APWF
At the beginning of the meeting (video) at around 46 mins from the start, Jacquie Rand from the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation (APWF) provided a brief explanation of why mandatory cat curfew and containment is not successful.
Her advice is based on their scientific research including research based on several Australian councils, and analysis on “numbers” from Merri-bek.
Jacquie Rand also recommended to support wildlife and:
- implement micro targeting cat desexing in the key areas for endangered and threatened animal areas specifically within the council area; and
- identify and implement micro target strategies for the specific endangered and threatened animals in the Merri-bek area (eg physical barriers to exclude all introduced species).
BANYULE DESEXING PROGRAM
Banyule council in Victoria and its success with targeted desexing was also considered. LRC included a blog item in 2021.
A key factor in the Banyule approach was the Animal Management Officer taking a proactive approach rather than the traditional enforcement role. This included conversations with the community and offers of help rather than judgements, and seizing animals, and/or fines and penalties.
MERRI-BEK COUNCILLOR MOTIONS & DISCUSSIONS
Around 2 hours and 4 minutes into the meeting the item for cat containment is discussed by the councillors for about 15 minutes, and they achieve unanimous support on the approach forward.
HIGHLIGHTS OF MERRI-BEK ANALYSIS & ASSESSMENT
It is interesting to note that the Agenda document (refer the extract on item “7.8 Cat Containment Strategy”) includes:
Stakeholder Feedback
“The stakeholders stressed that changes would come from long-term community compliance not enforcement. Industry experts also highlighted that cat confinement is positive for cats and community but will not address the impact of unowned cats on wildlife and natural areas.
Those with experience in the industry noted that there is not an evidence base that cat curfews have been effective at reducing cat populations or protecting wildlife.”
Communications
“The plan will focus on behaviour change, provision of information and education to help cat owners understand the health benefits of keeping cats safe at home and support to help our community make the change for positive outcomes. This targeted behaviour change program is aimed at driving change and setting the tone of social norms around responsible cat ownership.
The plan will identify the basic principles of human behaviour and how we may best approach behavioural change. We need to understand the behavioural factors and the barriers and drivers that prevent or motivate cat owners to keep cats contained and use this information to develop targeted strategies…
We will partner with vets, animal welfare and rescue groups to contribute their expertise and will link our community…”
REFERENCED SOURCES
MERRI_BEK COUNCIL MEETING WEBPAGE
Council meeting minutes and past agendas (merri-bek.vic.gov.au)
Which includes the video on their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=3335740696699437
Our extract of the Agenda document for item “7.8 Cat Containment Strategy”
AUSTRALIAN PET WELFARE FOUNDATION
We have already posted on the initial report from APWF on mandatory cat containment:
BANYULE COUNCIL
We have already posted on the success at Banyule Council:
LRC 
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