Cats
The Cat Management Act 2009 is the principal legislation for managing domestic and stray cats in Tasmania.
Key objectives of the Cat Management Act are to:
- Encourage responsible cat ownership.
- Improve the welfare of cats.
- Provide for the effective management of domestic and stray cats.
- Reduce the impact of cats on Tasmania’s unique environment.
Desexing and microchipping
All cats over the age of four months must be microchipped and desexed.
Exemptions to microchipping will apply where a vet certifies that microchipping may adversely affect the health and welfare of the cat.
Exemptions to desexing will apply where a vet certifies that desexing may adversely affect the health and welfare of the cat; or to a cat owned for the purpose of breeding by a registered breeder; or the holder of a cat breeding permit in relation to that cat.
Keeping multiple cats
A person must not keep more than four cats over the age of four months unless they have a multiple cat permit.
This permit is not required if:
- You are a registered cat breeder.
- You are fostering a cat for a cat management facility.
- You are looking after another person’s cat for less than six months.
- The cat is kept at a cat boarding facility or at a veterinary practice.
Further information on multiple cat permits is available from Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania or by visiting their website here.
Selling and re-homing cats
Any cat that is sold or given away to a new owner must:
- Be at least eight weeks of age.
- Be desexed.
- Be microchipped.
- Be wormed and vaccinated.
- Have had a general health check by a veterinary surgeon.
Has your cat been handed to a cat management facility?
If your cat ends up at a cat management facility it will be scanned for a microchip. If the cat is microchipped, the facility will try to contact the owner of the cat via the details provided on the microchip records.
Cat management facilities are required to hold microchipped cats for five days and non-microchipped cats for three days, to provide the opportunity for cats and their owners to be re-united. After this time, the facility may re-home the cat.
Before you can reclaim your cat, the facility must ensure the cat is microchipped and desexed.
Exemptions to microchipping will apply where a vet certifies that microchipping may adversely affect the health and welfare of the cat.
Exemptions to desexing will apply to a cat where:
- A vet certifies that desexing may adversely affect the health and welfare of the cat.
- The cat is owned by a registered breeder for the purpose of breeding.
- The holds a cat breeding permit in relation to the cat.
- Arrangements have been made with a veterinary surgeon to desex the cat.
You will be charged for the costs associated with your cat being microchipped and/or desexed, as well as any other costs that have been incurred in housing your cat.
Wandering cats
While there is no requirement in the legislation for a cat to be contained to your property, it does provide people with the right to trap a cat on their own property.
Your home is the safest place for your cat, and it is strongly encouraged to keep your cat safe and contained on your property.
Trapping cats
A person is permitted to trap a cat on their private property, as long as any cat that is trapped is either returned to its owner or taken to a cat management facility within 24 hours of being trapped.
If you are intending on trapping any cat, you should contact a cat management facility before setting a trap. They can advise you on humane trapping techniques and provide information on the facility’s processes for accepting a trapped cat, including operating hours and any associated fees.
Please do not take a trapped cat to a cat management facility without contacting them first.
More information
Information on responsible cat ownership is available from: