Cat ownership

Each household is permitted to keep three cats under the City’s Animal Local Law 1999.

If there are more than three cats on a property, the owner is required to register all cats living at that property and requires special permission from the City. Should special permission be provided for more than three cats at a property, the permission only applies to the cats nominated at the time of approval.

To request permission for more than three cats please send your request via info@joondalup.wa.gov.au.

When City Field Officers locate or collect a lost cat they will make every effort to contact the registered owner in order to reunite the cat with the owner.

Lost cats

If you have lost your cat:

• Contact the local veterinary hospital, RSPCA or Cat Haven.
• Speak to your neighbours.
• Contact the City:
  • By phone: call 9400 4000
  • By email: info@joondalup.wa.gov.au

Impounded cats

Cats may be impounded if they are found wandering in public areas or are on private property without the owner’s consent. If there are no means of identifying an owner, City Officers will take the cat to the RSPCA Animal Shelter in Malaga.

If your cat is impounded, you will need to pay an impound fee before it can be released to you. Additionally, if your cat is not registered, sterilised, or microchipped, these requirements must be fulfilled before the release.

Unclaimed cats

If your cat remains unclaimed after seven days the RSPCA will endeavour to re-home the cat. To avoid your cat being impounded:

• Contain your cat on your own property at all times.
• Keep your cat indoors at night to prevent roaming.
• Ensure your cat wears a collar displaying a registration tag.
• Ensure your cat is microchipped.

It is recommended that a name tag with owner’s contact name and number is attached to the cat’s collar at all times. Penalties may apply for any cat that is not microchipped, unregistered or unsterilised.

Cats are considered a nuisance if they roam, attack wildlife, or create a disturbance in or around a property.

Strategies for deterring unwanted cats

To deter nuisance or unwanted cats, consider the following:

• Speak to your neighbours to try and resolve the issue.
• Try spraying the cat with water.
• Use a loud sudden noise to startle the cat.
• Use motion activated sprinklers or ultrasonic devices.
• Motion sensors use infra-red to detect when an animal enters a defined territory.
• Use of scent repellents can be a useful tool – naturally based products such as the Coleus Canina plant emits an odour that may deter cats.

If the cat associates its visits to your home with an unpleasant experience, it is less likely to return. Residents should be mindful that any action taken to deliberately injure or harm a cat is not acceptable and is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2002.