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Invasive Species
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Home > Invasive Species > Invasive Animals > Controlling Stray and Feral Cats

Controlling Stray and Feral Cats



Stray and feral cats pose a risk to Tasmania's environment and agricultural sector. Research shows some impacts on local wildlife populations from cat predation and disease transmission. Cats may act as a vector for the introduction of diseases into livestock.

While responsible pet ownership prevents the introduction of more cats into the environment, the existing feral population is believed to be self-sustaining and eradication is not feasible. A Cat Management Plan is being developed in consultation with key industry, community and research partners to better understand and mitigate these impacts. The Department is supporting ongoing research by the University of Tasmania into the impact of feral cats - register to receive Eradicate, to keep up to date on this ongoing work.

The Cat Management Act 2009You are now leaving our site. DPIPWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement allows for 'cat management actions' within 'prohibited areas' such as Crown Land, private timber reserves, reserved land and land subject to a conservation covenant under the Nature Conservation Act 2002You are now leaving our site. DPIPWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement and State Forests and Reserves. This allows for ongoing control activities such as humane destruction and trapping of cats found in those areas by managers of that land.

The owner of private land, or someone acting on their authority, may trap, seize or humanely destroy a cat found:
  • on rural land used for primary production relating to livestock, or
  • on any land further than 1km from any residence
Where a cat is trapped or otherwise seized, the cat must be returned to its owner if known or transferred as soon as practicable to a cat management facility.

All control activities must be conducted in accordance with the Cat Management Act 2009You are now leaving our site. DPIPWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement and the Animal Welfare Act 1993You are now leaving our site. DPIPWE is not responsible for the content of the web site to which you are going. The link does not constitute any form of endorsement. Penalties apply for inhumane activities and other breaches of those Acts.


Further Information

Download Feral Cats in Tasmania - Fact Sheet as a PDF  Feral Cats in Tasmania - Fact Sheet
(PDF: 281 KB / 1 page)  

This is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file and requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is easy to download and is free of charge.
Contact: Invasive Species Enquiries
Invasive Species Branch
171 Westbury Road
PROSPECT TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6336 5320
Fax: 03 6336 5453
Email: invasivespecies@dpipwe.tas.gov.au





 		 Councils and Cat Management Facilities
 

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This page - http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/SSKA-8TV5WV?open - was last published on 30 April 2013 by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Questions concerning its content can be sent to Internet Coordinator by using the feedback form, by mail to GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7001, or by telephone.

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