Learn about your responsibilities as a cat owner, including legal requirements, managing nuisance behaviour, protecting wildlife and understanding where cats are not permitted.
Requirements by law
Cats are a wonderful pet to have and can provide so much joy and comfort to individuals and families. However, it is important to understand your responsibilities as an owner of cat.
Under the Cat Act 2011, all cats six months of age and over must:
- Be microchipped.
- Be sterilised (unless exempt).
- Be registered with the City.
- Wear a collar and current registration tag when in public places.
In addition:
- You cannot keep more than three cats at a property without a permit.
- You must hold a breeding permit if you intend to breed cats (even one litter).
Please speak to your vet about microchipping and sterilising your cat. Proof of microchipping and sterilisation (or an exemption certificate) is required when registering your cat.
Under the Cat Act 2011, on the spot fines may apply for:
- Keeping an unregistered cat.
- Failing to ensure a cat is wearing its registration tag in public.
- Failing to ensure a cat is microchipped.
- Failing to ensure a cat is sterilised.
- Identifying a cat as sterilised when it is not.
- Transferring ownership of an unsterilised or un-microchipped cat.
- Breeding without a valid breeding permit.
- Refusing to provide required information to an authorised person.
Cats are not permitted in the following parks and reserves.
| Suburb | Cat prohibited areas |
|---|---|
Alkimos | Alkimos Foreshore Reserve |
Darch | Landsdale Park |
Eglinton | Eglinton Foreshore Reserve |
Gnangara | Lake Gnangara Park |
Jindalee | Jindalee Foreshore Reserve |
Koondoola | Koondoola Regional Bushland (including Waddington Park and Rendell Park) |
Marangaroo | Chancellor Park; Marangaroo Golf Course |
Mariginiup | Lake Adams |
Mindarie | Kinsale Park; Mindarie Foreshore Reserve |
Neerabup | Pinjar Park |
Quinns Rocks | Quinns Rocks Foreshore Reserve |
Two Rocks | Two Rocks Foreshore Reserve |
Wanneroo | Badgerup Reserve; Banyandah Park; Donnelly Park; Hepburn Park; Lake Joondalup Foreshore Reserve; Lake Joondalup Park; Poinciana Park; Rotary Park; Scenic Park; Studmaster Park |
Woodvale | Panzano Park; Rosso Park; Solana Park |
Yanchep | Yanchep Foreshore Reserve |
Protecting native wildlife is a key part of responsible cat ownership, particularly in a City with more than 120 conservation reserves and several vulnerable species.
Cats are natural predators. Even well-fed pets will instinctively hunt, especially at dawn, dusk and overnight. Wildlife that nests or feeds near the ground is particularly at risk.
You can help protect local wildlife by:
- Keeping your cat at home, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Providing indoor enrichment such as toys, scratching posts and climbing spaces.
- It is essential to sterilise your cat to reduce roaming and territorial behaviour.
- Installing secure fencing or a cat enclosure (especially near bushland or reserves).
- Using a bell or predation-deterrent collar.
- Keeping your cat indoors while you are not home.
- Avoiding feeding wildlife, which can attract prey species and increase hunting.
As an owner, you are responsible for ensuring your cat does not disturb neighbours, damage property, or cause environmental harm. Common nuisance behaviours include:
- Roaming into neighbouring yards.
- Spraying on outdoor furniture.
- Defecating in gardens or sandpits.
- Yowling (often associated with mating behaviour).
- Fighting with other cats.
- Entering homes through cat flaps.
- Hunting wildlife on another person’s property.
- Keeping your cat on your property.
- It is essential to sterilise your cat.
- Providing daily enrichment and regular play.
- Feeding at structured times rather than free-feeding outdoors.
- Keeping outdoor food sources secured. By securely storing food scraps, removing leftover pet food, and using closed bins or compost systems, you reduce the likelihood of cats being drawn to your property.
- Addressing yowling through sterilisation and enrichment.
- Ensuring your cat is microchipped and wearing a registration tag.
If a neighbour raises concerns, the City encourages resolving the issue together first. Many problems can be resolved with small changes at home.
