For the well-being of both cats and wildlife, all pet cats in the Adelaide Hills should be confined to their owners' properties at all times (24/7).

The Adelaide Hills Council is undertaking a "comprehensive review" of its pet cat bylaws. We would like the new bylaws to require:

     - all pet cats to be confined to their owners property at all times
     - all pet cats to be registered with the Council
     - all pet cats to be desexed
     - all pet cats to be micro-chipped for identification

Research has found that roaming pet cats live on average for only three years, and suffer greatly from disease and injuries (eg. car accidents, dogs, snake bites, cat fights etc.). By contrast confined cats' expected lifespan is 15 years or more.

Studies have also shown that in peri-urban areas such as the Adelaide Hills roaming pet cats have a devastating impact on local wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles etc. - including endangered species).

Surveys indicate that 54% of South Australian cat owners already confine their pets (either as 'inside cats' or in enclosures). We would like all cats to be confined, with the new bylaws to be introduced gradually to minimise the costs and inconvenience to cat owners (for example, the new laws might apply only to any new cats).