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As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your cat is happy and healthy and not negatively impacting the community in any way.
You must microchip, register and desex your cat. You must also follow the ACT’s cat containment requirements.
See below for more information about responsible cat ownership, as well as what to do if you find a cat that is lost or roaming.
Registration
As a cat owner you must register your cat and pay a one-time fee. Each year you must renew your registration, free of charge.
Cat registration is compulsory in the ACT for cats which:
are over the age of 8 weeks old
have been in the ACT for 28 days or more, and
have a keeper who has been a resident of the ACT for 28 days or more.
You can now register a new pet, renew or cancel your registration and update your pet’s details on the new Pet Registration Portal using your ACT Digital Account. If you do not have an account, you can register for one as part of this process.
If you have moved interstate, or your pet has passed away or has a new owner, select ‘cancel’ on the update/renew pet details form. You will not be prompted to update your pet’s details the following year.
If you have difficulty using the registration form please contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
If you have moved interstate, or your pet has passed away or has a new owner, select ‘cancel’ on the update/renew pet details form. You will not be prompted to update your pet's details the following year.
If you have difficulty using the above forms please contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
If you cannot see your pets on your ACT Digital Account, it may mean that some of your details recorded on your pet’s registration do not match. Please contact Domestic Animal Services on 6207 2959.
Microchipping
All cats in the ACT must be microchipped. It is a quick and safe procedure where a small silicon chip is implanted under the skin of the animal, usually around their shoulder blade area. Cats can be microchipped at any age by Domestic Animal Services, RSPCA ACT and veterinarians.
Microchipping is an effective way for animal shelters and vets to identify lost pets and return them to their owners.
To update your details for your cat’s microchip, please visit Pet address.
Desexing
Desexing your cat is essential in the ACT to reduce the number of neglected and abandoned cats. Owning a sexually entire cat is irresponsible and is a strict liability offence under the Domestic Animals Act 2000.
Your cat must be desexed unless:
the cat is less than 3 months old
the keeper of the cat holds a sexually entire permit issued by the registrar of Domestic Animal Services.
Infringement notices can be issued for owning a sexually entire cat without meeting one of the above exceptions.
The veterinary practitioner must mark the ear of the cat with a tattoo when they are desexed, unless the vet recommends not doing so for medical reasons.
the animal is kept for breeding or used, bred or bought for show
it would be detrimental to the health of the animal if it were to be desexed.
Lost and found cats
All found cats in the ACT are housed at RSPCA facilities. Lost and found cats are listed on the RSPCA website.
Cats must wear identification so that they can be returned to their owner if found. Cats can be identified by a collar and tag that includes the owner's contact number or address.
It's also advisable to attach a small bell to your cat's collar so help prevent your cat stalking wildlife.
Looking for a lost cat?
If you have lost your cat, please contact RSPCA ACT by calling 6287 8100.
You can also check the RSPCA website for a checklist of what to do if you've lost your pet.
Found a lost or roaming cat?
If you have found a cat that is not wearing an identification tag with a contact number:
take the cat to a vet clinic and its owner may be identified if the cat has been microchipped.
contact RSPCA ACT and they will assist you in returning the cat to its owner.
All cats in the ACT born after 1 July 2022 must be contained on your property. A number of suburbs have also been declared cat containment areas for nature conservation reasons. This means all cats in these areas, regardless of age, must be contained. See below for a list of cat containment suburbs or check the cat containment map.
Containment means keeping your cat on your premises 24 hours a day. This can include your house or apartment, an enclosed area in a backyard or courtyard, a cat crate or on a leash. Keeping cats contained avoids risks and improves their welfare and safety.
Contained cats live longer and are less likely to suffer diseases or sustain injuries through fighting with other animals or being hit by cars. Cats can also cause significant harm to our native wildlife if they are allowed to roam outside.
Cat containment suburbs
Bonner
Crace
Coombs
Denman Prospect
Forde
Gungahlin Town Centre east
Jacka
Lawson
Macnamara
Molonglo
Moncrieff
Strathnairn
The Fair at Watson
Throsby
Taylor
Whitlam
Wright
Keeping 4 or more cats
A multiple cat licence is required if a person wishes to keep 4 or more cats on a residential property.
To apply, please complete the application for a multiple cat licence (PDF 200.4 KB).
While there are no laws prohibiting burying your pet on your property, this is not recommended or encouraged for any pet larger than a guinea pig for health and safety reasons. Please note euthanised pets may contain toxic amounts of euthanasia drugs. Burying a euthanised pet in your backyard may pose additional health risks to other animals or wildlife on your property.
In the ACT dogs and cats must be registered. If your cat has passed away, please cancel your cat's registration on the pet registration portal using your ACT Digital Account. You can also contact 13 22 81 if you’d prefer to speak to someone.
