Make sure your cat naps when you do
Cats are highly valued pets in Australia; around 23% of
households own them. They adapt well to our life styles,
and are great companions for people who live in high-density
areas.
However, serious problems can occur if cats are allowed
to roam outdoors between dusk and dawn.
Around eighty percent of accidents involving cats
happen at night. Roaming cats can get hit by cars,
injured in fights, catch fatal diseases (eg feline AIDS) or
become lost. Cats kept inside at night generally live at
least three times longer than cats allowed to roam!
The hours between dusk and dawn are also when cats
are most likely to kill native wildlife; even well fed cats
will hunt. Cats can annoy neighbours at night too, by
spraying, fighting, yowling and digging in gardens.
| |
|
Legal requirements for cat owners
If your cat is found wandering off your property and is
not identified, it can be seized and impounded. You may
have to pay a fine when reclaiming it from the pound.
If your cat wanders onto another person's property
more than once, it may be seized and impounded.
Council may issue an order to stop your cat
trespassing, and if you don't comply you may be fined.
Some councils require cats to be confined to their
owner's property during certain hours. Others prohibit
or restrict cats in some places. Check with your local
council to see if these requirements apply in your area.
Confine your cat
You can protect your cat and our wildlife, and
avoid problems with neighbours, by confining
your cat at night.
Confining your cat to the property is also the best
way to avoid legal action.
Contrary to popular belief, cats don't have to
roam. Providing their basic needs are met, cats
can enjoy longer and healthier lives when confined
at night or even twenty four hours a day.
Where to confine your cat
Simply keep your cat in the house or flat with you,
or in the garage or shed at night.
Other options include a buying or building a "cat
enclosure" for your yard, or installing "cat proof
fencing". Look under "Pet Shops' Suppliers" in the
Yellow Pages for companies that sell enclosures
and netting.
If you're handy and would like to save money, check out the
booklet "How to build cat proof fencing and cat
enclosures" (if you don't have internet access, call
136 186 for mail order). Along with the traditional
cat enclosures, the booklet provides instructions
for building 'cat proof fencing'. This involves
modifying existing fences to make them 'cat
proof', giving cats free access to the yard.
The booklet includes step by step DIY instructions
with supporting illustrations and photos.
It also provides guidelines on how to enrich
the environment of cats so they remain happy
and healthy when contained to the property.
| 
|
How to confine your cat at night
When training your cat to accept confinement, skip
its morning feed and call it in at night to be fed.
Don't feed your cat until it comes inside - it will learn
quickly that it won't get fed unless home by dusk.
Once inside, don't let it out again until morning.
Ensure your cat has a cosy and well ventilated
sleeping area, with food, water and a litter tray.
Your cat should adapt to night confinement within a
few days. If not, get further advice from your vet.
|
How to confine your cat for longer periods
If you wish, you can gradually extend the time
your cat spends indoors or in an enclosure. When
confining cats for long periods you must enrich
their environment. This will prevent them from
getting bored or having behavioural problems.
Give your cat plenty of companionship (from
yourself or another pet), and exercise through
play. You can even train cats to walk outside on
a harness and leash! Provide climbing and
scratching posts, toys (eg scrunched paper or
balls), and hiding places (eg cardboard boxes).
If your cat is not in an outdoor enclosure, ensure
it can access window ledges for sunshine, or
place a chair near a window. You can also give
your cat grass to chew (non toxic varieties such
as oats, wheat, rye-grass).
|
|
