G2Z National Cat Action Plan

This G2Z Discussion Paper proposes a way forward to achieve national consistency in effective domestic cat management and welfare strategies in Australia. (Feral cat management will be addressed in a separate process).

It aims to generate feedback for the development of effective common approaches to domestic cat management and welfare across Australia, acknowledging some differences in approaches may be needed between urban and rural or remote communities. As states and local governments managing companion animal legislation are at different stages, it is not anticipated that commonality can be achieved simultaneously. However the benefits of achieving agreement across stakeholders nationally on a common direction should help reduce inconsistencies over time. This paper therefore offers a proposed way forward as a starting point for response and constructive suggestions from all stakeholders.

The objectives of this National Cat Action Plan are:

1. To seek agreement on the need for common legislation which make it easier for communities to understand and is better for the welfare and management of domestic cats.

2. To work towards effective breeding legislation and policies in line with an ethical approach that improves the well-being of domestic cats, other animals, and communities.

Please read the National Cat Action Plan Discussion Paper (you can find it at http://www.g2z.org.au/national-cat-action-plan.html) and provide feedback by completing all sections below.


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* 1. Which is the main stakeholder group you are a part of:

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* 2. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following proposals in the G2Z National Cat Action Plan:

There is a need for common cat legislation across all states.

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* 3. Breeder Permit System - Anyone who breeds is required to have a government permit

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* 4. Do you already have a requirement for a breeder to have a government permit in your municipality or state?

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* 5. Breeder Permit - breeders pay (e.g. $120 p.a.) for the Breeder Permit which covers the costs of inspection and keeping records.

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* 6. Do you already have a requirement that breeders pay a fee for a permit in your municipality or state?

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* 7. Breeder Permit - An independent accredited inspection conducted by local or state government officers or government-authorised animal welfare inspectors prior to permit issue and annually.

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* 8. Do you already have the requirement for an independent accredited inspection conducted by local or state government officers or government-authorised animal welfare inspectors prior to permit issue and annually in your municipality or state?

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* 9. Breeder Permit - Inspections based on compulsory Standards.

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* 10. Do you already have breeder permit inspections based on compulsory standards in your municipality or state?

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* 11. Breeder Permit - Requirement to publish Breeder Permit Numbers with all animals advertised or presented for sale.

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* 12. Do you already have a requirement to publish Breeder Permit Numbers in your municipality or state?

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* 13. Breeder Permit - A national register of independently accredited breeders accessible to the public.

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* 14. Do you already have a register of independently accredited breeders accessible to the public in your municipality or state?

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* 15. Breeder Permit - Breeder to desex all kittens and cats before sale or transfer, except when sold to another permitted breeder, or a veterinarian provides a written certificate that desexing the kitten is likely to be a serious risk to the animal's health. (Sale or transfer at 10 weeks to allow time for desexing).

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* 16. Do you already have the requirement for breeders to desex all kittens and cats prior to sale or transfer in your municipality or state?

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* 17. Breeder Permit - Cooperative subsidised desexing programs, at affordable rates, readily available and promoted, for concession or low income earners to desex mother cats and kittens of unplanned litters or when a litter of kittens is surrendered to a shelter, pound or pet shop and to prevent unplanned breeding.

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* 18. Do you already have a cooperative, subsidised desexing program in your municipality or state?

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* 19. Seller Permitsand Standards - Sellers of cats e.g. pet shops, wholesalers supplying to pet shops, sellers through the internet, pay for a Seller Permit to cover the costs of inspection.

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* 20. Do you already have paid Seller Permits in your municipality or state?

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* 21. Seller Permits and Standards - Seller and Breeder Permit numbers displayed where cats and dogs are sold.

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* 22. Do you already have a requirement to display Seller and Breeder permit numbers where cats and dogs are sold in your municipality or state?

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* 23. Seller Permits and Standards - Records of the source of all animals to be accessible by inspectors and local government authorities.

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* 24. Do you already have a requirement that animal source records be accessible by inspectors and local government authorities in your municipality or state?

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* 25. Seller Permits and Standards - Sellers to desex all kittens and cats prior to sale except when sold to another permitted breeder, or a veterinarian provides a written certificate that desexing the kitten is likely to be a serious risk to the animal's health. (Sale or transfer at 10 weeks to allow time for desexing). This is necessary while breeder permit legislation is at different stages between states/local governments, as undesexed animals may be transferred between states and local government areas.

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* 26. Do you already have the requirement for sellers to desex cats and kittens prior to sale in your municipality or state?

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* 27. Seller Permits and Standards - Publication of independently accredited pet shops on a shared government site.

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* 28. Do you already have a published list of independantly accredited petshops in your municipality or state?

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* 29. All kittens and cats required to be microchipped prior to sale or transfer.

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* 30. Do you already have a requirement for all kittens and cats to be microchipped prior to sale or transfer in your municipality or state?

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* 31. All pounds, shelters and rescue groups required to desex all cats and kittens prior to rehoming

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* 32. Do you already have the requirement for pounds,shelters and rescue groups to desex all cats and kittens prior to rehoming in your municipality or state?

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* 33. Low cost cat registration annually (under $20 per annum) and from 12 weeks of age.

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* 34. Do you already have low cost cat registration annually (under $20 per annum) and from 12 weeks of age in your municipality or state?

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* 35. State Government to work with Body Corporate and Real Estate bodies to develop nationally consistent legislation and policies to support pet friendly accommodation.

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* 36. Local Government to provide owner support policies - Return animals home rather than impound.

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* 37. Local Government to provide owner support policies - Waive infringement fees for first wandering offence.

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* 38. Local Government to provide owner support policies - Waive or reduce impound fees when owners desex and identify their cat (or dog).

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* 39. Local Government to provide owner support policies - Provide desexing subsidies and reduced registration fees for responsible carers who adopt and desex stray or unowned cats.

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* 40. Local Government to provide owner support policies - Provide Animal Help Lines for information on how to address common animal ownership issues.

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* 41. Local Government to provide owner support policies - Provide information on various cat containment methods.

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* 42. Coalitions of local stakeholder representatives to work cooperatively on implementing G2Z solutions.

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* 43. Share statistics as a motivator to get your community involved in solutions.

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* 44. Education programs for primary and secondary students.

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* 45. Community Education programs to raise awareness about desexing, identification, training and keeping cats safe.

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* 46. Shelters and Pounds - Fostering of all unweaned kittens, timid and sick cats and kittens until they are able to be safely desexed and rehomed.

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* 47. Shelters and Pounds - Have a shelter/pound veterinary clinic to provide desexing and on-site care to all animals.

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* 48. Shelters and Pounds - Proactive Rehoming Policies i.e. online promotions, extensive opening hours.

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* 49. Shelters and Pounds - Local pet shops to rehome pound/shelter cats and kittens.

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* 50. Veterinary schools and veterinary students - Provide all veterinary students with work placement in animal shelters.

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* 51. If you are a veterinary school or student, do you already have this element of the plan in place or is it under consideration?

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* 52. Veterinary Schools and veterinary students - Provide students with training in early age desexing.

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* 53. If you are a veterinary school or student, do you already have this element of the plan in place or is it under consideration?

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* 54. Veterinary Schools and veterinary students - Include in course content unwanted cat issues and ways veterinarians can help address these issues.

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* 55. If you are a veterinary school or student do you already have this element of the plan in place or is it under consideration?

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* 56. Veterinary Practices - Establish a Community Veterinary Clinic or other community desexing support system.

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* 57. Do you have already have this element of the plan in place in your veterinary clinic?

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* 58. Veterinary Practices - Offer early age desexing of kittens from 8 - 10 weeks of age.

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* 59. Do you already offer early age desexing of kittens from 8 - 10 weeks of age in your veterinary clinic?

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* 60. If your clinic does offer early age desexing of kittens from 8 - 10 weeks of age is it to:

  Yes No
All owners
Breeders
Pounds/shelters/rescues

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* 61. Journalists - Share information about the issues AND how the community can contribute positively to solutions.

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* 62. Journalists - Report on G2Z initiatives of local government and animal welfare groups.

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* 63. Real Estate Professionals and Body Corporate Bodies promote cat friendly lease agreements.

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* 64. Do you have already have this element of the plan in place in your real estate or body corporate organisation?

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* 65. We encourage you to provide any other positive suggestions to help reduce the numbers of unwanted domestic stray and surrendered cats. (Unsocialised cats will be addressed in a separate Discussion Paper in the near future, however you can add your suggestions here if you wish to contribute to the new paper).
If you have any successful G2Z programs/results in your area and have not already provided this information above, please describe briefly here, along with which municipality or state.

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* 66. Please provide your name, organisation and contact details for future updates and continuing involvement in the development of the plan.

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* 67. I give permission for my name/organisations name to be included in the list of respondents with the results of this consultation.

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