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Cats

Cats can be a fantastic form of companionship, however cat ownership involves many responsibilities.  As an owner you must ensure your cat is fed, cared for and does not roam from your property.

In South Australia all cats must be registered in Dogs and Cats Online (DACO), the state-wide database for all dogs, cats, microchip, desexing and breeder registration.  Owners are required to register their cat in DACO, which can be done using the cat’s microchip number.  You should be provided with your cat’s microchip number from your vet, microchip implanter, shelter or breeder.  There is no registration fee for cats in the City of PAE.

Updating DACO Records

Maintaining your details on Dogs and Cats Online is important and each July owners will receive a reminder to log in and ensure your details are up to date.

In the event that your cat passes away or is lost for more than 72 hours you must update your cat’s record in DACO. you can select ‘deceased’ or ‘lost’ from the animal status drop down menu on your cats record. If you are unsure how to do this please contact Customer Relations on 8405 6600

If your cat is surrendered to the RSPCA or AWL or is given to a new owner, their registration must be transferred to the new owner.  You will need to initiate a transfer in DACO and provide the new owner with the transfer number. For more information on this process please visit the Dog and Cat Management Board home page.

Mandatory Microchipping and De-sexing

All cats born after 1 July 2018 are required to be microchipped and desexed by law.

Cats must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age and owners are required to register the microchip number in DACO.  Cats must be desexed before it is 6 months of age, or within 28 days after a new owner takes ownership of the cat if older than 6 months. Some exemptions can apply, visit the Dog and Cat Management Board website for details.

Stray and Nuisance Cats

AWL will no longer accept cats from Council or privately owned traps

AWL has adopted an AWL Retrieval Crates program (for a refundable deposit) whereby members of the public can ring the team on 8348 1300 to book an AWL Retrieval Crate (cage)  to contain a stray cat on their property in a safe and humane way, prior to entering AWL’s care. The number of crates available at any given time will vary based on their capacity.

5 or More Cats

The AWL will not accept reports from community members of 5 of more cats on a property and/or are repeatedly accessing the AWL Retrieval Crate program. Please contact our Customer Relations team on 8405 6600 to discuss alternative options.

Nuisance Cats

If an unwelcome cat enters your property, we encourage you to approach its owner in a friendly manner to explain the impact the cat is having on you.  If you treat the issue as a shared problem and work together on finding a solution, you are likely to achieve a positive result. If this approach does not solve the issue, please contact Customer Relations on 8405 6600.

Breeding, Selling and Buying

There are laws which regulate breeding and selling cats in South Australia.  The most significant are listed below.

  • Breeders and sellers must adhere to the South Australian Standards and Guidelines for Breeding and Trading Companion Animals.
  • Breeders intending to sell cats they have bred must register in Dogs and Cats Online
  • A cat can’t be sold without a microchip.
  • The cat must be desexed by six months of age
  • Any advertisement selling a cat must include the seller and breeders’ contact details and breeder registration number.
  • Sellers/breeders must provide specific information to purchasers, eg. seller and breeders’ details; breeders’ Dogs and Cats Online number; vaccination details; desexing details; microchip details; known illnesses or medical conditions

For more information on breeding, selling and buying visit the Dog and Cat Management board website

"We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand, the Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains. It is upon their ancestral lands that the Port Adelaide Enfield Council meets. It is also the Place of the Kardi, the Emu, whose story travels from the coast inland. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We respect their spiritual beliefs and connections to land which are of continuing importance to the living Kaurna People of today. We further acknowledge the contributions and important role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within our shared community."