Wildlife rescuer Bev Langley is calling for a consistent, statewide approach to cat containment across South Australia, saying native animals continue to suffer in areas without 24/7 rules.
“Adelaide Hills Council brought in the 24/7 containment a couple of years ago and a noticeable drop in victims of cat attacks came from the area ever since,” Bev Langley said.
The wildlife rescurer at Minton Farm in Cherry Gardens says partial curfews like those at the neighbouring Mount Barker Council district are not effective.
“The curfews are useless, they go out in the daytime and decimate all the birds and the lizards and the frogs and everything else, so that does not work – it actually needs to be 24/7 containment.”
She also reports a significant amount of native animals are injured by domestic cats in the Onkaparinga district, where there is are no containment laws yet.
Beyond direct attacks, Langley says free-roaming cats also contribute to the spread of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can travel through soil and water, affecting livestock and marine life.
“Even the marine wildlife, whales and dolphins, have been found to have toxoplasmosis in their brains from cat poo washing off into the ocean,” she said.
Hear Bev Langley’s radio chat with ARN’s Jennie Lenman via SoundCloud.
