The NSW Government has announced an expansion of the Keeping Cats Safe at Home program, extending it to 19 additional councils across the state.

Funded by the Environmental Trust, the $6 million program aims to reduce the impact of domestic cats on native wildlife while improving pet welfare. The expansion brings the total number of participating councils to 30.

The initiative promotes desexing, microchipping, lifetime registration, and voluntary containment of cats, encouraging owners to keep pets safe at home.

Ron Hoenig, Minister for Local Government, said supporting the program aligned with the government’s broader commitment to responsible pet ownership.

“The recent cat management inquiry has shown there is a lot of evidence that desexing cats not only helps protect the environment but is an important way to reduce pressure on council pounds and rehoming organisations.

“Supporting this program is part of the government’s commitment to promoting responsible pet ownership through education and action.”

Domestic cats kill an estimated 53 million reptiles, 61 million birds, and 67 million mammals in Australia each year. Two in three cat owners have also lost a pet to a roaming-related accident, with one-third of those incidents involving vehicles.

Pilot programs across 11 councils recorded significant improvements, including a 50 per cent reduction in free-roaming cats in the Blue Mountains, 35 per cent in Campbelltown, and 25 per cent in Tweed Shire. More than 2,700 cats were desexed and over 1,700 microchipped, while cat-related nuisance complaints fell by over 40 per cent in seven areas.

Steven Coleman, CEO of RSPCA NSW, said the program provided benefits for both pets and native wildlife.

“RSPCA NSW is dedicated to improving the lives of all creatures great and small, and the Keeping Cats Safe At Home program delivers a win-win solution that benefits both pets and native wildlife.

“We are incredibly grateful to the NSW Government and the Environmental Trust for their significant investment in this program, which will allow us to proactively help more people and animals in need while fostering a statewide cultural shift in how Australians care for their cats.”

Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment, said the program’s collaborative approach was delivering real results.

“This collaborative project is a simple but effective solution, created by people who care deeply for cats and native wildlife.”

A new statewide social marketing campaign will also launch as part of the expansion, promoting cat containment and efforts to reduce cat homelessness across NSW.

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