When cats roam free, small wild animals die. And the body count in Australia exceeds 2 billion native animals per year.

Environmental researchers in Australia compiled the alarming figure by combing through hundreds of studies on the predatory habits of Australia's free-ranging pet cats as well as feral felines. The scientists documented cats' historic and ongoing toll on Australian wildlife in the book "Cats in Australia" (CSIRO Publishing, 2019).

In just one day, Australia's millions of cats kill approximately 1.3 million birds, 1.8 million reptiles and over 3.1 million mammals. Excerpt taken from: https://www.livescience.com/65915-australia-cats-wildlife-killers.html

Councils across Australia have begun having 'no roaming polices' when it comes to cats, and it's not only because of the native animals they kill. The RSPCA recommends cats be kept indoors, "Contained cats are less likely to become lost or injured (hit by a car or attacked by a dog). They are also less likely to get into cat fights and have cat fight-related injuries (abscesses) or catch diseases such as FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Containment also increases the opportunity for owner-animal interaction and reduces the impact of hunting by cats and disturbance caused to neighbours." Excerpt taken from: https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/is-it-okay-to-keep-my-cat-at-home-all-of-the-time/

Cats can also threaten smaller prey animals that are kept as pets like rabbits or guinea pigs if they are allowed to roam into neighbours backyards... and cats DO roam. A study released in 2017 that tracked more than 400 cats found nearly all roamed farther than most owners realised. This put the cats at risk of cars, hissy cat spats, annoyed neighbours and poisons, all while endangering native animals and birds.
 
University of South Australia researchers attached GPS devices to the collars of 428 cats for a week. It found the median range the cats travelled from their home was about the size of a football field, while some free-ranged across towns and city suburbs. Excerpt taken from: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/councils-to-introduce-cat-curfews-to-limit-prowling-at-night-20170208-gu876v.html)

It's time for all pet owners to take responsibility, and keep cats indoors or in an outdoor enclosure for their own health and safety, and for our irreplaceable native fauna. Please sign my petition to have cat curfews / no roaming policy put in place in all local councils and for State Government to change the 1998 Companion Animals Act to state that cats must be kept indoors.