NSW New Offences for Cat Owners Whose Cats Roam Free [Cat Containment Laws]; Councils Can Order Containment

Companion Animals Amendment (Control of Cats) Bill 2025

Private Member's Bill

22 Oct 2025: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

animal welfare cat control companion animals pet ownership roaming cats

Introduced by: Sue Higginson MLC (GRN)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

cat owners will be required by law to take all reasonable precautions to prevent their cat from escaping from their property — failure to do so is a new criminal offence with escalating penalties for repeat offences
owners who intentionally let their cat leave the property without it being under effective control face a fine of up to 8 penalty units (2026: $880)
a cat found outside its property without being under the effective control of a person is now treated as a nuisance cat under the law, as is a cat that endangers the health of a person or animal
councils can issue orders requiring a cat owner to take steps to contain their cat, and failure to comply with such an order is an offence
there is a defence for people experiencing homelessness or domestic abuse who cannot contain their cat
the laws take effect one year after assent, with higher penalties for first offences applying after 5 years

News articles and press releases

Companion Animals Amendment (Control of Cats) Bill 2025

Ms SUE HIGGINSON — 2025-10-22

It amends the Companion Animals Act 1998 and the Local Government Act 1993 to establish a clear duty on cat owners to keep their cats under control, in the same way that dog owners are expected to control their animals, and to empower councils to make and enforce reasonable orders to prevent cats from escaping the property where they are kept. The bill is about responsibility, balance and protection of our precious native animals from domestic cats that are allowed to roam. Roaming owned cats kill native birds, reptiles and small mammals. Recent Australian research shows that each roaming pet cat kills, on average, about 186 animals per year, of which around 110 are native animals, including 40 reptiles, 38 birds and 32 mammals.