Cat curfew in effect

Under the plan, the council will supply cat traps to locals who notice a breach of the sunset-to-sunrise curfew.

They will then have three to four days to capture the errant feline.

Once a cat is trapped, the council's ranger will be called, and a time to pick up the pussy can be arranged.

If it can be proved the cat was wandering during the curfew, its owners will be hit with a $51 fine, and the cat will be returned.

If the cat is taken to the pound, a further $33 will be charged for the boarding fee.

If unregistered, the full registration fees of $19 for desexed felines, and $57 for others, will be applied.

Mayor Greg Williams said enforcement was not the primary reason for the curfew."This is really about education and about getting people to do the right thing," he said.

"As a cat lover, I think it is important people keep their cats in at night. We always do."Cat lover and Grassy Flat Ward councillor Bruce Phillips said the curfew was more of a deterrent.

"There is a very strong message to the community, in so far as cat owners must take responsibility for their pets," he said."To ignore this massage may well result in more stringent measures which, in effect, would imprison all cats 24-hours a day."Cr Williams said an all-day curfew was originally considered.

"I think it would be unduly harsh to go directly to a 24-hour curfew,' he said.

"I think we will run with this for a few years."Registered cat owners will receive a letter in the coming weeks outlining the new laws, and advertisements will appear in local papers.

Eaglehawk Ward councillor Elaine Harrington said the curfew was aimed at protecting cats, as well as native animals.

"It is more than likely this will reduce cat fights and bird deaths that occur at night time," she said.

Council first mooted the curfew in late May, following a 160-signature petition.

Since then it received 22 submissions, mostly in favour of the idea.