Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024

Consultation has concluded

In 2022, the City of Bayswater began reviewing its local law for keeping and control of cats. Extensive community engagement was undertaken, the results of which can be viewed at Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 | Engage Bayswater.

At its Ordinary Council Meeting of 25 June 2024, Council approved the proposed draft Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 for public advertising.

The purpose of the local law was to amend the Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 to include:

  1. a new clause 2.3 “Cats in Other Places”:
    • This clause provides that a cat shall not be in a public place unless the cat is, in the opinion of an authorised person, under effective control. It also stipulates that a cat should not be in a place that is not public, unless consent to its being there has been given by the occupier or a person apparently authorised to consent on behalf of the occupier, and it is under effective control. If the cat contravenes clause 2.3, the owner of the cat commits an offence, and an authorised person may seize and impound the cat and deal with the cat pursuant to the Cat Act 2011.
  2. a new offence penalty in Schedule 2, item 3; and
  3. “Brickworks Lake” as part of the Maylands Lakes Cat Prohibited Areas.

The effect of the amendment local law was to incorporate ‘by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011, with minor modifications.

Community Engagement

Outcomes of the community engagement can be found in the Council Meeting Minutes of 22 October 2024.

Outcome

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 October 2024 Council resolved to make the Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 as advertised, which includes by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011. This Amendment Local Law appeared in the Government Gazette on Friday 8 November 2024 and came into operation on 22 November.

On 16 September 2025, a motion to disallow the City’s Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 was passed by the Legislative Council.

The disallowance followed the City’s attempts to include the provision within the local law that sought to contain cats to their owner’s property unless under effective control.

The City’s Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 stands, which includes amendments made in 2023 prohibiting cats from 43 sites across Bayswater in a significant step towards protecting the City’s fauna.

These locations include environmentally sensitive sites such as Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary and Gobba Lake, as well as the Bayswater Industrial Area. 

The City has advocated for greater cat containment laws in response to strong support from the community for protecting native wildlife.

The City welcomed the State Government’s announcement a review of the Cat Act 2011 has commenced and will continue to promote responsible cat ownership through a range of education initiatives and community programs.

In 2022, the City of Bayswater began reviewing its local law for keeping and control of cats. Extensive community engagement was undertaken, the results of which can be viewed at Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 | Engage Bayswater.

At its Ordinary Council Meeting of 25 June 2024, Council approved the proposed draft Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 for public advertising.

The purpose of the local law was to amend the Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 to include:

  1. a new clause 2.3 “Cats in Other Places”:
    • This clause provides that a cat shall not be in a public place unless the cat is, in the opinion of an authorised person, under effective control. It also stipulates that a cat should not be in a place that is not public, unless consent to its being there has been given by the occupier or a person apparently authorised to consent on behalf of the occupier, and it is under effective control. If the cat contravenes clause 2.3, the owner of the cat commits an offence, and an authorised person may seize and impound the cat and deal with the cat pursuant to the Cat Act 2011.
  2. a new offence penalty in Schedule 2, item 3; and
  3. “Brickworks Lake” as part of the Maylands Lakes Cat Prohibited Areas.

The effect of the amendment local law was to incorporate ‘by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011, with minor modifications.

Community Engagement

Outcomes of the community engagement can be found in the Council Meeting Minutes of 22 October 2024.

Outcome

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 October 2024 Council resolved to make the Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 as advertised, which includes by reference’ clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ of the Shire of Northam Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011. This Amendment Local Law appeared in the Government Gazette on Friday 8 November 2024 and came into operation on 22 November.

On 16 September 2025, a motion to disallow the City’s Keeping and Control of Cats Amendment Local Law 2024 was passed by the Legislative Council.

The disallowance followed the City’s attempts to include the provision within the local law that sought to contain cats to their owner’s property unless under effective control.

The City’s Keeping and Control of Cats Local Law 2022 stands, which includes amendments made in 2023 prohibiting cats from 43 sites across Bayswater in a significant step towards protecting the City’s fauna.

These locations include environmentally sensitive sites such as Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary and Gobba Lake, as well as the Bayswater Industrial Area. 

The City has advocated for greater cat containment laws in response to strong support from the community for protecting native wildlife.

The City welcomed the State Government’s announcement a review of the Cat Act 2011 has commenced and will continue to promote responsible cat ownership through a range of education initiatives and community programs.