Kangaroo Island Cat Control Committee

Kangaroo Island is a unique place with abundant wildlife including penguin colonies located in the centre of our largest townships, stone curlews in abundance, and small wrens, honeyeaters and robins nesting in our gardens. Unfortunately the abundance and long term survival of these species is partially threatened by the abundance and unrestricted movements of owned and unowned cats. One way to reduce this impact is to ensure that all domestic cats are responsibly managed. Responsible cat ownership benefits cats, cat owners and their neighbours as well as wildlife and is supported by cat welfare agencies such as the RSPCA, the Australian Veterinary Association and Cat Protection Societies.

Responsible cat ownership includes:

• Desexing your cat if it is not to be used for commercial breeding.
• Keeping your cats at home, either inside the house or shed, or in an outside run or on a lead.
• Identifying your cats by microchip, collar and tag, or tattoo.

Desexed cats are better and more docile pets and desexed males especially are less smelly, less likely to mark their territories with their very potent urine, & less likely to stray.

If kept in at night cats are less likely to be hurt in fights, pick up diseases and abscesses, be hit by cars or annoy neighbours with their wailing & caterwauling.

Evidence indicates that well-fed cats continue to hunt. The best way to stop your cat from killing native animals is to stop it roaming. Keeping cats in at night reduces the number of nocturnal animals such as pygmy possums, penguin chicks or ground nesting birds being killed. However cats still prey on animals that are active during the day, such as most bird species and lizards. So it is necessary to restrict cat movements during the day and night to stop them from hunting native animals.

Scientists who have studied cats have quite clearly demonstrated that wearing a bell does not stop cats from hunting successfully. They can stalk their prey without ringing the bell until the moment that they pounce- and then it is too late for the victim. Kangaroo Island residents are keen to maintain their special environment and the KI Cat Control Committee is keen to help through education and the promotion of the actions listed above to all cat owners.

KICCC is working with KINRMB and KI Council.

Cat enclosures