Council hires cat cages free of charge for a 14 day period. A $30 deposit is payable.

Residents are required to sign a hire agreement and notify adjacent neighbours that they have hired a cage with the intention of catching stray cats in the neighbourhood. Waiting time for a cat cage is usually between 1-2 months. We will advise you when a cage is available.

Our cat hire cages are not recommended for use to capture protected native fauna. Please contact the Lofty Barossa District of National Parks & Wildlife on 8336 0901 for information on trapping fauna.

For more information on hiring of cat cages please contact us on ph: 8397 7444 or email.

Council strongly encourages responsible cat ownership.

Cats do not currently have to be registered with Council however as for all household pets, cats are dependent on human beings for care and feeding. Cats have a reputation for being relatively independent but still need love and attention from their owners.

Outdoor cats

Cats allowed outside have some degree of freedom and independence. They enjoy hunting small animals and interacting with other cats. They get plenty of exercise and are unlikely to become bored or lonely.

The outdoors, however, poses many hazards, even in rural areas.

An outdoor cat may be struck by a car, poisoned by common pesticides, or injured by other animals (other cats or dogs). In addition, the cat may be exposed to the fatal feline diseases that are endemic in the stray cat population.

To ensure your cat is safe it should always be:

• Identified with a microchip or collar
• Desexed and immunised
• Confined to your property.

Identified cats

An identified cat has a collar or disc around its neck with name, address and phone number. A microchip implanted by a vet also provides identification trace-back. There is usually an "M" tattoo placed in the right ear of microchipped cats to indicate that they have a microchip.

Desexed and vaccinated cats

Cats breed very easily and unless they are desexed may have a litter of kittens and then another litter of kittens every 6 months or so. Cats can have their first litter when they are as young as 6 months of age. So, if you own a cat and do not intend to breed from it, we encourage you to have it desexed. Cats can safely be desexed at around three months of age.

Your kitten will grow into a strong healthy adult cat with care and attention such as:

• food
• fresh water daily
• medical care

your cat will also need vaccination, worming and flea management.

Confined cats

Kittens are naturally scared of people at first, but if handled and well cared for in the first 16 weeks, they will develop trust in the humans who care for them. Providing a protective and safe environment for a kitten to grow and develop into an adult cat will ensure a win-win scenario for all.

Council encourages responsible cat ownership. If your cat strays to areas where it is unwelcome, the community sees this as a nuisance and complaints can be made.

We encourage you to try and identify a cat considered a nuisance, so that it can be returned to its rightful owner without too much fuss. Stray cats can be removed and cat cages can be hired from us. However, identified cats must be released unharmed within 12 hours or returned to the owner.

Complaints

For ongoing complaints, the Animal or Bird Nuisance Record detailing the behaviour that is causing the nuisance can be used by community members and returned to Council. In order for us to proceed with any investigation or action we need the following:

• completed diary
• cover completed and signed
• completed statement section.

This information is used in our investigation into the complaint and all details remain confidential.

A formal complaint must be substantiated by another adjoining or nearby resident who is experiencing the same problem.

Without this information we are unable to investigate the nuisance.