Moggies of Merri-bek

​The cat curfew decision passed by Council last night has left many residents shocked and disheartened. The outcome did not reflect the evidence presented, the scale of community opposition or the basic standards of transparent governance that residents expect.

 

More than 405 residents signed a petition asking Council to pause the curfew and complete the targeted desexing and education program that Council had already endorsed in December 2022. Only 59 people supported the curfew petition. Despite this imbalance, the larger community voice was set aside.

 

Residents also watched expert speakers present consistent evidence. The Australian Pet Welfare Foundation, professional trappers on the frontline of community cat desexing, and the leader of Banyule’s successful program all explained that curfews undermine humane desexing, drive up surrenders and do little to reduce wildlife impact. A resident also cited APWF research showing that the widely repeated Bella and Charlie study overstates pet cat predation by roughly sixteen times, meaning the scientific basis often used to justify curfews is deeply flawed. Many residents filled the gallery to show how much this issue matters. Their presence received no acknowledgement in the end result.

 

The process itself raised serious concerns. The September to October consultation survey was altered partway through without explanation. A 24 hour containment option was reintroduced after Council had already voted in Sept to remove it. Key data was placed only in attachments, meaning most residents would never see it. The survey also launched without any way to vote for ‘No Curfew’, and there was no public notification when that option was later added. Despite the clear ‘No Curfew’ majority, the results were not reported in the officer summary, and the completely different 12 hour and 24 hour responses were later combined, artificially creating a “curfew majority” that did not reflect how residents actually voted. The 2022 resolution to deliver a targeted desexing and education program was also never brought back with the required report. Taken together, these actions have eroded trust and left residents feeling that the outcome was predetermined long before the meeting began.

 

Blanket curfews also have well documented unintended consequences. They do nothing to reduce the population of unowned and undesexed cats, which are responsible for the overwhelming majority of wildlife impact. In practice, curfews discourage people from taking responsibility for semi-owned or stray cats, because they cannot legally contain them. This means more cats remain on the street, more breeding occurs and the wildlife impact increases, not decreases. This pattern is well documented by rescue groups and animal shelters across multiple councils that have moved to curfew models.

 

Even the NSW Parliament rejected statewide cat curfews after reviewing the available evidence. Their inquiry found no justification for mandatory containment and instead recommended investment in humane desexing programs, support for semi-owned cats and targeted community education. Merri-bek has moved in the opposite direction, despite facing the same challenges identified in that inquiry.

 

Many residents also expressed sadness that the real nuance never cut through. Instead of addressing the root causes of stray cat populations, Council opted for a headline friendly curfew that does not solve the problem. It is deeply disappointing that an issue requiring evidence, compassion and long-term strategy was reduced to a simplistic narrative that ignores the actual drivers of wildlife harm.

 

There is also the risk of increased conflict between neighbours. Curfews that cannot be meaningfully enforced often lead to tension, complaints and even vigilantism, which several other councils such as Darebin have already seen. This is not a path that strengthens community cohesion.

 

Curfews also have a significant social equity impact. Only wealthier and physically able residents can realistically comply by building expensive enclosures or modifying their homes. Renters, older residents, people with disability and those in small or shared homes simply do not have that option. While grants may be offered, they assume a level of stability, space, landlord approval and physical ability that many residents do not have. And for residents living with mobility aids, walkers or chronic conditions, the practical reality is even harsher. Containment becomes not only expensive or impractical, but for many people, physically impossible.

 

The effect is that cat companionship becomes something only accessible to the most resourced and able households, while others face heartbreaking decisions about surrendering animals they love.

 

The deepest consequences fall on animals with the least voice. Older and semi-owned cats that have lived outdoors for years often cannot cope with containment. Supporters of the curfew have argued that existing cats will not face 24 hour confinement, but this overlooks two critical realities. First, many current outdoor and semi-owned cats cannot reliably meet a strict 12 hour curfew, placing them at heightened risk of surrender, entrapment or complaint. Second, from 2027 onward, every newly adopted cat with any outdoor history will be subject to 24 hour containment. These are exactly the cats least able to cope with life indoors. Without workable pathways into homes, hundreds of these outdoor-experienced or semi-owned cats will become un-adoptable each year and will be euthanised. This is the opposite of humane management and directly contradicts the DAMP’s stated purpose.

 

Merri-bek deserves evidence-based policy that reduces breeding stray populations, protects wildlife and supports responsible pet owners. A blanket curfew will not achieve this. The community will now monitor the outcomes of this policy closely and continue advocating for approaches that genuinely reduce stray populations, protect wildlife and support the people who care for these animals.

 

There is still real hope in what has emerged over the past week. A community movement has grown to more than 405 residents, and many people still do not yet know about the curfew, and now have a home for their voice. Every day more residents join the conversation, share their experiences and bring their own skills and compassion to the table. What began as a small group has become a growing effort to stand for humane, effective and evidence-based policy and for the animals and neighbours who will be most affected.

 

We believe in a future where Merri-bek can come together around solutions that work for wildlife, cats and residents alike. We remain committed to that path.

 

Moggies of Merri-bek

To watch the cat curfew debate from the Nov 12 Council meeting, click here.