I saw an article recently which indicated that the average cat killed 112 native animals a year.  It seems a clear choice - either have cats constrained or lose your small wildlife.  In the context of preserving native animals it is fair enough that their biggest predator is prevented from hunting in the wild.

Our little cat never killed a bird in her life. Why should she be imprisoned to appease a bunch of zealots?

I have to tell the truth here...I do not like cats. Having said that, I wish no animal harm and I simply adore the birds that frequent my garden.

So, when it comes to choosing between having cats indoor at all times and my birds being free to fly around without the threat of being chased by a cat...then... the cat must GO !!

I really like cats but don't have one currently.

I love the native animals that frequent my garden too.

When I see a visiting cat stalking them ... it gives me the horrors.

I welcome the Bass Coast Shire Council rule, particularly as their local government area includes Phillip Island, home to one of Australia’s most extensive penguin colonies.

Good idea. Qinnsbeacher, confine your cat to your back garden, and definitely keep it in at night. If your cat doesn't like it, well, tough, and if you don't , tough again.  If the cat is fed sufficiently it shouldn't be chasing birds You can train a cat. When we lived in Queensland, we would very often have  12 - 15 Rainbow Lorikeets on our back lawn, and our cat just sat on the swing looking at them and then  lay down and got comfortable, and with the look she gave them, she could be saying "Oh it's them again"; they would have been about 4 metres away. She also used to watch a pigeon that I would hand feed  wander around the patio, at times 40 cms from her on her cat perch. She would watch it and not show any interest, possibly because we would feed these birds . She was well fed,trained to ignore them.

I see the government, just today, is crying about the loss of endangered species and blaming climate change. Feral cats are doing more damage to our fauna than any part of climate change. Domestic cats are also causing many problems. Since our cat died I've noticed a lot of little lizards in the garden as well as native birds.

Superb idea BCSC. If people are not prepared to manage their pets responsibly then impounding cats ( and dogs) is a fair way to manage the problem.