Conservationists continue to do amazing work to save our imperilled native species, including the numbat. Why should millions of native animals and thousands of pet cats have to die and suffer over juggling policy priorities? Let’s make it possible to permanently contain pet cats in WA in 2025.

The state government could prioritise a simple short amendment to the Cat Act to make cat containment possible in a matter of weeks. Or the Legislative Council could vote to support the Shire of Pingelly’s Save the Numbats local law (Nov 19).

The City of Bayswater tried to make a similar cat containment law in mid-Sep but the Legislative Council disallowed it. Since then, c. six million birds, reptiles and mammals have been killed by roaming pet cats and c. 1,200 pet cats have died in roaming-related accidents across Greater Perth alone.

The Shire of Pingelly is where you can find some of the last remaining wild numbat populations. They recently tried to bring in a law to permanently contain pet cats to save their numbats. Whether or not they can keep this law will be decided in the state Legislative Council on November 19.

This is clearly good news for WA. Yet with such a simple amendment required, why can't this change come sooner than "sometime in 2026." Why should millions of native animals and countless pet cats have to die over a matter of juggling policy priorities? Let's get this done in WA in 2025!

Thanks Craig! @bfw.bsky.social has been a champion in this space. I've really valued his media engagement to help clarify the need for change. Your work has been outstanding too, thank you!

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey so far. Yet we must recognise that it is far from over. We owe it to our cats, community & wildlife to deliver the nation's best cat ownership policy as part of reviewing the WA Cat Act. I look forward to that initiative.

As Steve Martin MLC pointed out "we have time before Christmas, before the break at the end of the year, so I urge the Minister for Local Government to get this done." Why should millions of native animals and countless pet cats have to die over a matter of juggling priorities?

Instead, it seems we will have to wait until sometime in 2026. With such a simple amendment required to allow cat containment to be pursued by local governments it is disappointing that this change is not coming sooner.

We have broad support from all parties for this change, we now just need to get this done. Despite a clearly articulated position from @bradpettitt.bsky.social, Brian Walker and Jess Beckerling as to why it was possible to deliver cat containment this week, that option was not pursued.

What was most pleasing for me this week was to hear the informed discussion on the benefits of permanent containment for pet cats in the Legislative Council chamber on Tuesday evening. All parties spoke with authority to the broad benefits to cats, people and wildlife.

I congratulate the Minister for her leadership. I am grateful that after many years of engagement with state politicians across all parties, local governments, community groups and with the general public, we have a clear public commitment to deliver this much needed change.