Cats
Cats are wonderful company, they are adorable and playful and make great companions. Given their curious nature, cats can cause havoc to our native wildlife and a nuisance to other residents.
Within the City of Campbelltown, our cats by-law requires that cats remain on their owner's property at all times.
Register your pet
Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) is a Statewide database for all dogs, cats and breeders. It is compulsory for all dogs and cats to be registered within 3 months of birth or within two weeks of ownership.
Registration fees and renewals
There is currently no fee for cat registration in the City of Campbelltown.
Registration renewals are due by 31 August each year. In July, you will receive a renewal notice via post, email or SMS from DACO advising your pets registration is due.
Update your pet's registration
You must update your pet's records on DACO if your pet:
- passes away
- is lost for more than 3 days
- is given away to a new owner
- is surrendered to the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League or another animal shelter.
In South Australia it is compulsory for all dogs and cats to be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or within 28 days of ownership. If your dog or cat was born before 1 July 2018 this does not apply.
In South Australia it is compulsory for all dogs and cats to be desexed by 6 months of age or within 28 days of ownership. If your dog or cat was born before 1 July 2018 this does not apply. Vet’s may issue an exemption for desexing and upload this to your pet's profile.
If you would like to have more then 2 cats at your property, you will require a permit.
For further information, please read Council's By-Law 6: Cats.
People who breed dogs and cats for sale must register on DACO. Once registered you will receive a breeder number and this must be included in all advertisements.
There are 6 basic rules to follow when breeding and selling, for more information visit the Dog and Cat Board website.
The cats by-law is designed to control and manage cats in the Council area. It aims to promote responsible cat ownership, improving safety for domestic cats and local wildlife, and reducing neighbourhood issues associated with cats roaming on to neighbouring properties.
What does the cats by-law mean for cat owners?
The cats by-law requires that cat owners:
- Keep their cat(s) on their property at all times, unless under effective control
- Register their cat(s) via Dogs and Cats Online
- Ensure their cat(s) wear identification, including the owner’s name and address or phone number
- Ensure their cat(s) do not cause a nuisance to other residents by way of noise, odour, urination or defecation
The by-law generally limits the number of cats owned to two per property, however permission for additional cats may be obtained.
Why is the cats by-law a good idea?
There are benefits to your cat, your community and native wildlife when they remain on your property.
Keeping your cat indoors prevents them from getting into fights with other cats and keeps them safe from infectious diseases, poisons or traps.
The wider community also benefits from cat confinement because cats are no longer able to defecate and urinate in other people's yards, and they are less likely to upset the local native wildlife.
How is the cats by-law enforced?
We support the community to comply with by-law requirements by working with cat owners and neighbours to resolve issues.
Where no attempt is made to change cat behaviour and repeat occurrences are identified, we may make formal orders or issue fines.
Cat owners may be fined $312.50 for any breach of the by-law, including when their cat is found off their property.
How can I keep my cat happy indoors?
Keeping cats entertained and enriched inside is easier than you might think. Toys, scratching posts, climbing spaces, cardboard boxes and playing games with your pet are all ways to keep them entertained. Games and exercise can be kept as short as five minutes, making it easy to fit into your day.
How do I make my home safe for a cat?
It's important to be aware of potential hazards inside your home. Make sure that rodent poisons and insecticides, medications, toxic foods like chocolate, onion and garlic, and common plants like lilies are not within reach of your pet.
How do I keep my cat from leaving my property?
RSPCA South Australia offers three main ways to keep your cat at home:
- Keep your cat indoors
The easiest and cheapest way is to keep them indoors at all times. You may look to install cat-proof fly screens so that your pet can benefit from outdoor sights, smells and sounds without escaping. The RSPCA notes, however, that this will work best with a new kitten, as the sudden confinement of an older cat used to roaming may cause stress.
- Outdoor enclosures or runs
A second option, and one that eases your cat into confinement, is to keep your cat indoors, but with access to an outdoor enclosure or run, giving them the choice of where they want to spend their time. You can create an escape-proof enclosure on an existing balcony or veranda.
- Escape proof fencing
Another option is to fit your property with escape-proof fencing, so that you cat can roam your property without being able to flee. The RSPCA recommends a fence at least two metres high, with rolling cylinders and smooth metal or plastic sheeting on top that make it impossible for cats to get a good grip for climbing. Alterations to fencing must be done in consultation with neighbours in accordance with the Fences Act 1975.
Useful resources
Some great resources and information are available to help you cat-proof your property and keep your cat safe and happy at home:
How do I deal with stray or wandering cats on my property?
If cats are coming onto your property, we recommend:
- Talk to your neighbour face-to-face to try and fix the problem.
- If you don’t know who the cat belongs to, kindly encourage the cat off your property by:
- Squirting the cat with a hose. This won’t harm the cat and you’ll get the best results when you squirt to the side just above their belly (flank) and not the face.
- Making loud noises to startle the cat.
- Keeping the most visited areas consistently wet to deter the cat from digging, defecating, urinating or sunning there.
- Placing citrus peel, sprigs of rue (this is a herb), naphthalene flakes, or sprinkle pepper on the problem area until the habit is broken. You can also use cat repellent sprays and gels available from plant nurseries or vets (this will only work if the cat does not like the smell of the product).
- Placing cacti or other prickly plants around the areas where the cat visits.
- Using electronic deterrents that emit a high-pitched sound. These may also deter other wildlife from entering your yard, like birds.
- Where issues persist, contact Council to report nuisance cats. Please provide as much information as possible to identify where the cat is coming from, including a description or photo of the cat to enable identification.
Reporting nuisance cats
When reporting nuisance cats, it is important that Council are provided with as much information as possible to identify where the cat is coming from, as well as a description or photo of the cat to enable identification.
If your cat is microchipped and registered, this will ensure it is easier to reunite you with your cat if it escapes your property. We can scan for microchips and with up-to-date information, your cat will be home with you as soon as possible.
We will also work with you to identify ways to prevent future escapes, as if your cat is roaming on a regular basis, you may be fined for failing to comply with the cats by-law.