Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council is seeking community feedback on a revised cat containment policy that will require all local cats to be contained from July 2026.
The Council first adopted a Cat Containment Policy in 2021, which applied to specific cat containment areas. The revised policy is proposed to apply to all cats in the Queanbeyan-Palerang region.
The revised Cat Containment Policy has two stages.
- All cats born on or after 1 January 2025 will need to be contained from 1 July 2025.
- All cats, of any age, must be kept within your property from 1 July 2026.
Cats in the existing cat containment areas, including South Jerrabomberra, Elmslea Grove, Jumping Creek, parts of Googong and other new greenfield developments, are already required to be contained.
“This policy asks owners of cats to follow similar rules to dog owners by keeping them under effective control when outside their property. This could include being exercised on lead or transported in a crate,” Council said in a statement.
Cat containment policies are becoming more common as the impact of roaming cats on native wildlife is better understood. More than 50% of Victorian councils have introduced requirements to keep cats contained as well as in the ACT.
Studies undertaken by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub also show that cats kept safely at home are less likely to pick up diseases, live longer lives, and are less likely to be injured.
This draft policy is on public exhibition until 9 October.
