Cats are required to be registered and microchipped in the Darwin municipality.
One of the best ways you can ensure your cat's safety is by keeping them indoors, this keeps your cat away from potential dangers such as, cars, diseases and even fights with other cats.
Cats that are kept indoors can live up to four times longer than those allowed to roam freely.
Keeping your cat indoors will also help to protect our precious native wildlife. A study by the University of Sydney shows that roaming pet cats kill up to 390 million animals per year.
According to the same study, roaming pet cats kill 30 to 50 times more animals per square kilometre around town than feral cats do in the bush.
There are several diseases that a roaming cat can contract, which can be spread to humans. These include but are not limited to:
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Bartonella henselae
City of Darwin may declare an area to be a special cat control area to protect biodiversity or wildlife vulnerable to predation by cats. Learn more about your responsibilities as a cat owner here
To care for a cat you will need to provide:
- Regular and suitable meals with a constant supply of fresh water
- Clean and comfortable bed
- Provide the cat with outdoor access or be prepared to empty and clean a litter tray on a daily basis
- Provide it with a stimulating and safe indoor environment
- Have it neutered between 4 and 6 months old
- Vaccinate against the major feline diseases
- Worm regularly and provide treatment for fleas
- Take the cat to the vet when it shows any sign of illness
There are many cat cat containment ideas and companies in Australia, we recommend doing your research of what best suits you however, listed below are some ideas: