Domestic Cats

Be a responsible Cat Owner

Because cats are intelligent, resourceful, and hardy, it is easy to think that they do not need as much care and attention as other pets.  But cats need love, attention, companionship, feeding and a suitable space to live and play in.  Cats are now included in the 2023 amended Nhulunbuy Animal Control By-laws. Even though domestic cats do not need to be registered, cat owners must always contain their cats and have them under effective control. 

Microchipping

Unfortunately, registration tags may fall off collars or owners may forget/choose not to put a collar on their cat when it is at home. For this reason, microchipping is strongly recommended. A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is injected between the cat’s shoulder blades. The microchip contains similar information as required for registration, allowing for stray or lost animals to be quickly reunited with their owners.

Why confine your cat

Contrary to popular belief, cats don’t have to roam. Providing their basic needs are met, cats can enjoy longer and healthier lives when safely contained to the property. Serious problems can occur if cats are allowed to roam outdoors, particularly at night (around 80% of accidents involving cats happen at night). Roaming cats can get hit by cars, injured in fights, catch fatal diseases (e.g. feline AIDS) or become lost. Roaming cats can also kill native wildlife - even well-fed cats will hunt. Roaming cats can annoy neighbours too, by spraying, fighting, yowling and digging in gardens.

Cat-proof fencing

Cat proof fencing (ie modifying existing fencing to make it ‘cat proof’, giving your cat free access to parts of, or your entire, yard). If you have a small yard then this may be a better and cheaper alternative to building a cat enclosure. An ideal spot for cat proof fencing is that narrow area between the house and a fence that can be closed off at each end by gates. Cats should have access to the house through a cat door. If there are times when they are not able to access the house, they require access to a weatherproof sleeping area with a bed, and an adequate supply of fresh water while in the yard.

Feeding 

Cats need to be fed a well-balanced diet to maintain health, vitality, and body weight in the correct range for their breed and age. Regularly monitor a cat’s body condition to ensure its diet is adequate.

Water

Cats must always have access to clean drinking water. Cats prefer to drink fresh water and it encourages them to drink more. This is good for their health, and can help to prevent urinary tract infections, and urination outside of the litter tray.  

Vaccinations

Vaccination protects your cat against various diseases which can cause pain, distress and often death. Most diseases that affect cats are viral and do not respond well to medication. Where treatments are available, they can be expensive and, in some circumstances, even prove unsuccessful. For these and other reasons, prevention of diseases through vaccination is strongly advised.

Grooming

All cats need regular grooming, but long-haired cats need more coat care than short-haired cats.

Cat desexing

Along with helping to prevent cat overpopulation, there are many other benefits to desexing cats. Desexed cats can be better behaved. They may be less likely to roam, yowl at night or spray strong smelling urine. Desexing pets can also prevent them from getting certain types of cancer. It is also important to desex a female cat even if she is kept inside as cats can continue to cycle if they are not mated which can cause problems for the cat.