A petition calling for domestic cats to be confined to the owner's property, has received overwhelming support.
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Allen Greer from Mudgee received nearly 5600 signatures in the two weeks since mounting the petition.
Residents throughout the Great Lakes have posted their support for the initiative on the Advocate's Facebook page.
Currently, there is no curfew in place in the Mid Coast LGA (local government area).
It's not only for the safety of the wildlife it's for the safety of the cats themselves, Natalie Smythe wrote.
"My sister's cat was killed by someone in Forster after she let him out to go to the toilet two months ago."
There must be half a dozen in our street alone, Adriene Muscat posted.
"You see them roaming. If it were a dog they'd be impounded, if it were a dog that bit or attacked another animal, it'd be put down."
Christeen McLeod said she totally agree that cats should be kept inside or in a purpose-built enclosure for the safety of wildlife and the cat itself.
"It's not the cats at fault its the owners who need to change their ways.
"And, yes I practise what I preach with my two cats, but still have to put up with neighbour's cats urinating on things and fighting at night."
All domestic cats should keep inside or in a purpose built run 24/7, Karen Cook said.
"I'm forever chasing them always to protect our garden blue tongue natives."
Dayal Carruthers said a curfew should be a standard condition of owning a cat, a sentiment shared by Valerie Coyne.
"Definitely lock cats up at night," Susan Goodison said.
"As natural hunters, they kill so much fauna."
But, Wil Weston does not agree with confining cats.
"Why is this petty waffle being given air," he said.
"Unless a cat is killing anything, leave them alone.
"Keeping a cat indoors is animal cruelty.
"I agree every effort to stop wildlife harm, but where I live the wildlife are capable of doing more harm to each other than any cat.
"Maybe keep car in garage and don't run animals over."
Although MidCoast Council has not gone down the line of mandating a cat curfew, the Office of Local Government is conducting a review into the impounding act that could result in some changes.
However, right now we would refer members of the community to the Current Act and Regulatory Review on the Office of Local Government webpage for advice on responsible pet ownership and on how to manage a nuisance cat if there is one in the local area, a MidCoast Council spokesperson said.
"Council can currently only can take action to seize a cat in prohibited areas (food related areas and wildlife protection areas) using the Companion Animals Act laws.
"We deal with cats and dogs under the State government's Companion Animal Act."
Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
