Nuisance Cats, Cat Trap Hire, and Ranger Trapping Program

If you find a lost or trespassing cat or kitten, you can bring the animal to the Shepparton Animal Shelter during open hours. If you cannot catch the cat or kitten, you can hire a humane ‘cat trap’ from the Shepparton Animal Shelter to assist in catching the animal.

Nuisance Cats

Wandering nuisance cats can be a source of irritation for neighbours. If you have nuisance cats that are trespassing onto your property without your permission, the Domestic Animals Act 1994 states: 

  1. If a dog or cat has been present on private property on more than one occasion without the permission of the owner or occupier of the property, the owner or occupier of private property or an authorised officer may seize the dog or cat while it is present on the property.
  2. The owner or occupier of the private property or the authorised officer who has seized a dog or cat under subsection (1) must immediately notify the Council of the municipal district in which the property is situated.
  3. If the authorised officer who seized a dog or cat under subsection (1) is able to identify the owner of the dog or cat, the authorised officer must, within 5 business days after the seizure of the dog or cat, serve on the owner of the dog or cat a notice of objection to the presence of that dog or cat on the private property. The notice of objection must be served either personally or by registered post and a copy of a notice will be given to the owner or occupier of the private property.
  4. If, after a notice under subsection (3) has been served, the dog or cat enters or remains on the private property, the owner of the dog or cat is guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty of not more than 1 penalty unit for a first offence, and 3 penalty units for a second or subsequent offence.

Cat Trap Hire

The Shepparton Animal Shelter has a number of cat traps available for community members to hire. Depending on the time of year, the traps are often in high demand, which can result in a delay in availability.

Cat Trap Hire Fees

Deposit per cat trap: $100 ($50 for eligible pensioners)
The deposit is fully refundable upon return of trap in good condition.

Fees are for a 7-day hire period, and are correct for the 2023-2024 financial year.

The application form for the hire of cat traps is available for download following the below information. Please read the below carefully before applying to hire a cat trap.

Cat Trap Hire Conditions

Strict conditions need to be adhered to when hiring a ‘cat trap’ from the Council. If any hire conditions are not met, the trap may be removed by an authorised officer at any time. 

  • Cat traps are to be used to catch cats only. Traps are not permitted to be used to trap wildlife or foxes for any reason;
  • Cat traps can only be used on a property within the Greater Shepparton City Council municipality;
  • If the trap is damaged or misplaced, the hirer is responsible for the cost to replace or repair the cage.
  • Traps are constructed in such a manner to allow for the humane capture of cats under current legislation. They are not to be altered or modified in any manner.
  • Sufficient water, food and shelter from the elements must be provided at all times.
  • Place a towel over the trap to reduce the cats stress.
  • Traps cannot be set if a trapped cat cannot be transported to the Shepparton Animal Shelter within 24 hours.
  • The cat’s welfare must be protected especially when temperatures will drop below 10°C or exceed 20°C.
  • Only plain fresh cat food, fish, chicken or meat should be used as a lure inside the trap.

What to do once cat is trapped

Once a cat is captured;

  • If the cat is sick or injured, Veterinary assistance must be provided immediately. Please contact Council or the Shepparton Animal Shelter via telephone (03) 5832 9700 for advice.
  • It is preferable that the cat be removed from the trap within an hour of capture. However the cat must not remain in the trap for more than 24 hours.
  • The cat must be kept in a place away from all other animals.
  • The cat must;
    • only be returned to the Shepparton Animal Shelter during opening hours;
    • only be released back to their original owners.
  • Cats must not be released into the wild or abandoned.
  • When a cat is being transported;
    • take care to prevent injury to the cat;
    • place a waterproof cover or towel under the trap;
    • place a towel over the trap to reduce stress;
    • plastic or other non-breathable material must not be used to cover the trap at any time;
    • do not leave the cat in the direct sun or inside a vehicle as the animal may suffer from heat stress;
    • transport the cat to the shelter in the shortest time possible;  
    • the cat must not be transported in the boot of a sedan at any time;

Deposit refund conditions

  • To obtain a refund of the cat trap hire deposit, the hirer must ensure that they have complied with;
    • all Cat Trap Hire Conditions;
    • all relevant legislation; and
    • the hirer has completed a Supplier Registration Form with their nominated bank details and returned the form to Council;
  • If approved, the deposit will be returned into your nominated bank account approximately 14 days after the Supplier Registration Form has been submitted to Council.  

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008, there are a number of sections relevant to cat trapping.

  1. Transportation of animals
    A person must not place or transport an animal in an enclosed boot of a sedan motor vehicle. Penalty: 5 penalty units.
  2. Requirements for setting or using confinement traps
    A person must not set or use a confinement trap unless—
    1. the trap complies with regulation 34; and
    2. the person sets or uses the trap in accordance with regulations 35 and 36.
  3. Prescribed features of confinement traps
    A confinement trap must have the following features—
    1. the trap must not be designed in such a way that it may cause unreasonable pain or suffering to the trapped animal;
    2. the trap must not grip any part of the animal's body;
    3. the trap must not contain hooks or other protruding parts that may injure an animal.
  4. Places where confinement traps may not be set or used
    A confinement trap must not be set or used on any land, except with the consent of the owner or occupier of the land, or, in the case of Crown land, the manager of the land.
  5. Conditions of set or use of confinement traps
    1. A person must not set or use a confinement trap unless the person complies with the conditions under this regulation.
    2. If the animal is trapped in an enclosure or yard in a non-urban area where sufficient food, water and shelter is provided to the trapped animal, the animal must not be left trapped for more than 48 hours.
    3. In any case other than that referred to in subregulation (2), the trapped animal must not be left alive in the trap for more than 24 hours.
    4. A trapped animal that is a declared pest animal must be humanely destroyed as soon as is reasonably possible unless the person who owns it is authorised to own it under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 and the animal can be returned to the owner.
    5. If an animal is not required to be humanely destroyed under subregulation (4) or an animal for which the trap has been set or used, is captured in the trap and is alive at the time the trap is checked—
      1. the animal must be released from the trap as soon as is reasonably possible; and
      2. if the animal is injured, it must be taken to a veterinary practitioner for treatment as soon as is reasonably possible or, if severely injured, may be humanely destroyed.
    6. If an animal that is released from a trap under subregulation (5)(a) is uninjured and is—
      1. a dog or a cat, it must be taken to the local council as soon as is reasonably possible; or
      2. an animal that is not wildlife or a dog or a cat, it must be taken to an animal shelter or other appropriate animal care facility as soon as is reasonably possible.
    7. The trap must be set or used so as to minimise—
      1. any harm caused to a trapped animal; and
      2. the risk of catching non-target species.
Cat Trap Hire Application Form

PDF, 145 KB

Ranger Cat Trapping Program

Greater Shepparton City Council can arrange for a Community Ranger to conduct a Ranger Trapping Program (subject to conditions) in circumstances where an applicant is unable to hire a cat trap.

Ranger Cat Trapping Program Fees

Cost of program per 5 business days (Monday to Friday): $260
Pensioner prices available on application.

Fees are correct for the 2023/24 financial year.

Ranger Cat Trapping Program Application

To apply for the Ranger Cat Trapping Program, please download the form below, complete, and return to council@shepparton.vic.gov.au.

Application Form - Ranger Cat Trapping Program

PDF, 105 KB

Ranger Cat Trapping Program Conditions

Strict conditions apply when a Ranger Cat Trapping Program occurs:

  • The Ranger Cat Trapping program is subject to availability and Council approval.
  • The fees of the Ranger Cat Trapping program are non refundable.
  • Council cannot guarantee that cats will be caught during the trapping program.
  • Cat traps are used to catch cats only;
  • Cat traps can only be used on a property within the Greater Shepparton City Council municipality.
  • Trapping can only occur on the applicant's own premises.
  • Trapped cats can be cats that are trespassing, are semi-feral and living on the premises or are owned by the applicant.
  • A maximum of four traps will be set at any one time.
  • The ranger will attend the property and set the cat traps during Council business hours only.
  • Traps will only be set in an area that is out of the weather, away from dogs and other animals, and where it can be appropriately secured.
  • Rangers will re-attend the property a maximum of twice each business day to collect any trapped cats.
  • All trapped cats will be transported to the Shepparton Animal Shelter.
  • The applicant is responsible for monitoring the traps and contacting the Ranger to arrange collection.
  • Traps will not be set in extreme weather to ensure the welfare of any trapped cats are not compromised.
  • Traps are constructed in such a manner to allow for the humane capture of various animals under current legislation. They are not to be altered or modified in any manner and must only be used to catch cats.
  • Only plain fresh cat food, fish, chicken or meat will be used as a lure inside the trap.
  • Traps are provided in a clean working state. If the trap is damaged or misplaced whilst at the property, the applicant is responsible for the cost to replace or repair the cage.