Banyule's Community Cat Program saved $1million over eight years.   Bayside and Geelong rescinded 24-hr cat curfews. 

The Australian Pet Welfare Foundation: Cat-related calls to Banyule Council decreased in the target area by 51% and citywide by 36%. Savings associated with reduced cat-related calls to council, and the reduction in time spent by AMOs addressing complaints, estimated at A$290 per call, was approximately A$137,170 over the 8 years of the program 14. Further savings to council emanated from reduced costs associated with charges from the contracted shelter (A$303,490). The total estimated savings over eight years were A$440,660 [14]. The cost to council for sterilizations and microchipping amounted to A$77,490 for the 8 years.
Similar or greater decreases in cat-related calls to councils in NSW and Queensland over 2 to three years were reported following implementation of similar programs [26,33].
Flow-on effects of these programs include significant benefits to the contracted shelter, due to reduced cat intake. Given the estimated cost for each admitted cat of at least A$400 and in some cases over A$1000 for housing, sterilization, microchipping, and miscellaneous veterinary care, it is estimated that the program in the city of Banyule saved the shelter contracted (CPS) approximately A$619,942 over the eight years based on a cost of $400/cat, less income paid by Banyule per cat ($80/cat until 2017/18 and $150/cat from 2018/2019). [14,50]. Over the eight years of the program, total savings to the local government and the contracted shelter were estimated to be closer to A$1 million (50).

Banyule: 'Impacts of a Local Government Funded Free Cat Sterilization Program for Owned and Semi-owned Cats': https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/11/1615   Banyule's Community Cat Program ran for eight years under Jenny Cotterell.  After Jenny retired, Banyule animal managers without knowledge made curfews. When night curfews prove not to work, then Councils enforce 24-hrs - with greater animal casualties.  More peer-reviewed science report links are in our main page.

Recent Councils which have rescinded 24-hr cat curfews (like Frankston and Mount Alexander Shire)

Bayside City Council unanimously rescinded 'the proposed 24-hr cat containment restrictions'. 17 Dec 2024 Minutes page 21: https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-12/minutes_-_17_december_2024_-_council.pdf

City of Greater Geelong voted to 'rescind a 24-hr cat containment order' 29 May 2024. 'due to the financial burden on cat owners and the lack of detail on how the policy would affect cat owners living in rental accommodation...particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.'  https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/pets/news/item/8dc7ff2d0729a96.aspx

Knox borrowing is $90million+ and Knox wants savings.  Will Councillors listen?

Knox Director City Liveability labels Knox cats 'feral' in 28 January 2025 Council Meeting.  https://webcast.knox.vic.gov.au/archive/video25-0128.php#placeholder time: 35.28. 

Domestic urban cats are not feral.  Feral cats do not live in the vicinity of where people live.  Feral cats are not the subject of nuisance complaints and do not enter Australian council pounds or animal shelters.https://petwelfare.org.au/2023/07/17/australian-pet-welfare-foundation-position-statement-on-cat-definitions/  

Please contact the new councillors with concerns: 24hr cat curfews are scientifically-proven to fail, and add much higher costs to all residents.

Thank you, AdvoCats

previous Update:  https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats/u/33134459

Links:  https://www.change.org/p/knox-advocats

photo: Knox neighbour visitor

Scientific evidence shows that cat curfews 'mandated containment' costs All residents many times more, fails to save wildlife, farms kittens to kill, and rises the suicide-risk in shelter-workers higher than for Australian police and firefighters.  90percent of Victoria's impounded cats have no owners, are homeless, and curfews are costly and ineffective. Community Cat Programs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQbK3R36Xjg  https://petwelfare.org.au/community-cat-programs/