Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p21
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 21/80)
Character Range: 62181–65216

roundworm Toxocara cati; by Bartonella henselae, a bacterium that causes cat scratch disease; and, most seriously, by Toxoplasma gondii.

People infected with Toxoplasma gondii can experience no symptoms, mild to severe flu-like symptoms, eye disease, and inflammation of the brain and heart. Women who first become infected during pregnancy may experience miscarriage or have a child with congenital deformities. More pervasively, long-term infections of Toxoplasma gondii in people are being increasingly linked to a suite of behavioural changes that predispose them to accidents, and higher risk of mental health issues including depression and schizophrenia.

Livestock are affected by all 3 pathogens that affect people, and also by 2 species of single-celled parasite in the genus Sarcocystis. Toxoplasma gondii again has the most serious impacts, as it can cause abortions of lambs. Sarcocystis infection can cause affected meat, and even whole carcasses, to be discarded from marketing which leads to lost income from livestock production.

In a recent analysis, the economic costs of the human health and livestock impacts from cat-dependent pathogens in Australia were estimated to exceed $6 billion per year. Thus, reducing feral cat density in order to reduce the incidence of disease caused by cat-dependent pathogens could achieve a One Health outcome of economic and well-being benefits to people, livestock, and wildlife.

Refer to section 4.4 of the background document for further information and referenced sources.

Note: One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems. By linking humans, animals and the environment, One Health can help to address the full spectrum of disease control – from prevention to detection, preparedness, response and management. See One Health for further information.

     4.4 Public amenity

In urban and peri-urban areas, feral cats and free-roaming pet cats can cause nuisance to residents and impose a substantial burden on local governments that are usually responsible for implementing the companion animal legislation of their jurisdiction. Depending on jurisdictional requirements, local governments may also control (or assist others to control) feral cats living in towns and cities. Furthermore, local governments of remote and very remote areas face some unique challenges compared to those in metropolitan areas.

A 2021 survey of local governments reported that staff considered both pet and feral cat management to be very important for public amenity and wildlife protection. Local government staff also noted that the 'leakage' of pets into the feral population was a serious problem and considered that pet cat management was an important component of managing feral cats.

However, local government respondents stated that cat management was very challenging, because they lacked the resources to manage feral cats adequately, and because managing pet cats was constrained