FAQs

Dogs are required to be held or tethered and are required to contained to their property under the Dog Act 1976, currently the Cat Act 2011 does not have the same requirements for cats to be contained on private property or held or tethered, the City’s local laws are not allowed to include this for that reason.

Nuisance means (a) an activity or condition which is harmful or annoying and which gives rise to legal liability in the tort of public or private nuisance at law; (b) an unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of a person of his or her ownership or occupation of land; or (c) interference which causes material damage to land or other property on the land affected by the interference.

There are modified penalties of $200 for Cat causing a nuisance and $200 for Failure to abate a nuisance. The penalty may be greater if the matter proceeds to Court.

A cat shall not be in places deemed a Cat prohibited area, whether or not under effective control. If a cat is in a cat prohibited area, then the owner of the cat commits an offence and an authorised person may seize and impound the cat in accordance with the Act. If a cat is impounded at the Animal Management Facilities, there are fees to release the cat back to its Owner. There is also a modified penalty of $500 for the offence of a Cat in a prohibited area. The penalty may be greater if the matter proceeds to Court.

A cat should not be in prohibited areas at any time, whether or not under effective control. See the City’s Website for a full list of prohibited areas.

There are many ways you can prevent this – keep your cat indoors at all times, be careful when opening and closing doors so your cat does not escape, put in a cat enclosure so your cat can safely go ‘outside’ but not into areas where the cat will cause a nuisance. Be mindful also that cats who wander can get hit by cars or go missing so it is in the cat’s best interest to prevent cat’s wandering.

City of Kalamunda Rangers can set traps in prohibited areas and may do so if there are a lot of complaints about cats wandering in these areas. If someone’s cat is caught in a prohibited area a modified penalty of $500 for the offence of a Cat in a prohibited area may also be issued.

You can apply for a Permit to Keep More than the Standard Number of Cats. Enclosures or Catio’s are highly recommended.

Yes you can get another cat and apply for a Cat permit retrospectively, however the application may be denied if you have history of your cat/s causing a nuisance or other circumstances.

No this is not a requirement, although highly recommended if your cats cannot leave your property they are not at risk of causing a nuisance to the neighbourhood.

If you are utilising an existing patio or area that you already have permission for or are putting in a freestanding enclosure then you don’t require permission. If you are building a large patio and incorporating a cat enclosure into the build, you will still require the usual approval for building the patio itself. If you are unsure, please speak to our Duty Planner by calling (08) 9257 9999.

You will be required to apply for a new multiple cat permit within the local government your new address resides in. If you are still in the City of Kalamunda but at a different address, you will need to apply again and pay the required fees for your new address to be permitted to house multiple cats.

A cat enclosure will allow your cat/s to have the benefit of inside and outside living but the safety and security of knowing your cat is safe. There will be no risk of your cat roaming onto roads or into an area that may be prohibited and also of ensuring your cat is not a nuisance to your neighbours. It also protects birds and wildlife who are constantly at threat from both domestic and feral cats. The possibility of your cat/s being humanely cat trapped by nearby residents who do not want cats wandering onto their properties is also eliminated altogether.

In Western Australia, sterilisation of cats is mandatory by 6 months old, under section 18 of the Cat Act 2011. By law, they must also be microchipped and registered with your local government. Sexual hormones in cats can create spraying, mating with other animals leading to increasing cat numbers, aggressive behaviour and roaming.

No you should not feed a cat or look after a cat coming onto your property that does not belong to you. This will cause the cat to keep returning to your property for food and could become a nuisance or neglect to return to it’s rightful owner. If a cat wanders onto your property, you can humanely contain it for collection by a Ranger (for example in a cat carrier, humane cat trap). 

This will allow Rangers to locate the cat’s owner (cats should be microchipped, sterilised and registered at 6 months old to enable the Owner to be located), or if it has been abandoned or not cared for properly and the owner cannot be located and does not come forward to claim the cat (with evidence the cat belongs to them), the cat can be rehomed to a more responsible owner.

On the 1 November 2013, the full Cat Act 2011 took effect and requires all cats that have reached six (6) months of age to be:

• Microchipped; (proof required)
• Sterilised (Proof required, unless approved by local government as a Cat Breeder, conditions apply)
• Registered with the relevant local government.  Download an application for Cat Registration

Cats are required to wear a collar and registration tag to ensure that owned cats can be easily identified and returned to their owner.

The Cat Act 2011 requires the identification, registration and sterilisation of domestic cats, and gives local governments the power to administer and enforce the legislation

Please be advised the City is currently drafting a Control of Cats local law, for more information, please contact Community Safety- Rangers during Office hours. 

Once registered, if any details relating to your cat registration change (e.g. change of address) you must notify the City of Kalamunda by completing and returning the change of details form.

Fees

Pensioners pay half of the specified fees on presentation of their valid Pensioner Concession Card.

In respect of every new registration made after 31 May, in any year, half of the registration fee shall be payable. (Conditions Apply).

Please forward a cheque or money order for the animal registration fee applicable. Licences expire on the 31st October in the year specified on the animal registration form.

Selling of Cats

The transferral (selling/giving away) of cats without microchips or sterilisation is prohibited. For further information please refer to the Cat Act 2011 s. 23.Transfer of ownership of cats.

While the Cat Act 2011 does not limit the number of cats that can be owned, clause 4.7 of the City of Kalamunda Local Law: Animals and Nuisance (2011) restricts the number of cats to three (3) per property.

The Local law limiting cat numbers, does not apply to cats owned before the introduction of The Cat Act 2011. However, an owner will not be able to replace a cat if it is sold, given away or dies, until they are down to the required number of three (3) cats per property.

The City of Kalamunda’s Community Safety team do not hire cat traps or assist in the trapping of any cats.  However you can hire a trap from the Bird and Fish Place in Wattle Grove or High Wycombe Hardware (fees apply).

Once a cat is trapped in a humane cat trap, please contact the Rangers department who will collect the cat and return the trap back to your property once the cat is impounded. If you are trapping outside of normal Ranger hours , please ensure the trap is situated under cover with food and water.

The City of Kalamunda encourages anyone who is trapping cats to advise your surrounding neighbours before commencing.  If a cat is trapped in a humane cat traps the cat will be impounded and held for the prescribed amount of time.

The City of Kalamunda supports responsible pet ownership; you are encouraged to:

• Keep your cat confined to your property, especially at night. (recommended)
• Ensure your cat is easily identifiable with a collar and a name tag. (required)
• Microchip your cat (required)
• Sterilise your cat (required)
• Vaccinate your cat (required)
• Be a responsible cat owner, prevent your cat from becoming a nuisance to your neighbours

For further information please contact Community Safety Services: (08) 9257 9999

The RSPCA has produced a Guide to Keeping Your Cat Safe and Happy At Home, which has plenty of helpful information on what you need to provide for your cat inside, and how you can even offer your cat safe access to fresh air and the outdoors.

There are many benefits to keeping your cat safe, happy and secure in your house and backyard. Cats who roam face numerous risks, including traffic incidents, snake and insect bites, and altercations with dogs and other cats.

Find more information from the RSPCA website: https://www.rspca.org.au/adopt-pet/adopting-catkitten/safe-and-happy-cats