Northern Beaches residents are being encouraged to keep their pets safe at home as part of an ongoing animal protection campaign.

Northern Beaches Council is one of 11 councils who have joined forces with RSPCA NSW as part of the Keeping Cats Safe at Home project.

According to RSPCA NSW, two out of three cat owners have lost a cat to a roaming-related accident, and one in three to a car accident. 

Promoting responsible ownership goes beyond desexing and micro chipping of beloved cats and asks owners to consider keeping their cats at home.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said providing a secure environment benefits not only our cats but helps keep our wildlife safe. 

“By taking simple measures such as keeping our beloved feline friends indoors or providing them with secure outdoor spaces, we can ensure their well-being while also preserving the biodiversity of our local ecosystems.

“This initiative has an educational focus aiming to protect native species like lizards, mammals, birds and frogs, while also protecting domesticated cats from tragic road accidents.”

In 2021, the NSW Government awarded a $2.5 million grant from the NSW Environmental Trust to RSPCA NSW to deliver the project.

To help promote the campaign, Council is running their very popular Keeping Cats Safe at Home competition for a second year. 

Cat-lovers living on the Northern Beaches are invited to submit a photo or a video reel of their cat or kitten living its best life at home and are eligible to go into the draw to win one of 50, $500 vouchers for a deluxe outdoor cat enclosure from Catnets. 

The TeThe competition is now open. Finalists will be published in an online gallery.

Learn more about keeping cats safe here.