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Owning a cat

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Find out your responsibilities as a cat owner. Get advice to ensure your cat’s safety and wellbeing.

Himalayan cat sitting over woman's shoulder outdoors.

Owning a cat can have a positive impact on your mental and physical wellbeing. 

Research shows that cat ownership can improve self-esteem, enhance social connectedness and even improve cardiovascular health.  

Owning a cat also comes with responsibilities. You must follow pet ownership rules and look after your cat’s wellbeing. 

Deciding whether to get a cat 

Before you get a cat, take a moment to consider your lifestyle and living situation.

Are you allowed to have a cat at your place?

Check with your landlord or review your property rules. 

Do you have time in your daily routine?

Cats need feeding, grooming and playtime.

Does your living area offer enough space?

You'll need an enclosed area for a cat to explore safely and securely.

How will a cat fit into your household?

If there are kids or elderly people living with you, how will having a cat impact them?

What kind of cat will suit your household?

Different breeds have inherited health concerns, temperaments and needs.

Does your yard have the right fencing?

Your fence must prevent your cat wandering and disturbing your neighbours and local wildlife.

Adopting a cat

You can adopt a cat from an animal shelter. Council’s animal rehoming centres in Bracken Ridge and Willawong are run by Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ). Cats are desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, and treated for worms before being rehomed.

Browse cats for adoption

Preparing your home for a cat

It’s best to keep your cat indoors. Allocate a space in your home for your new companion to settle in. 

You might want to set up your cat’s supplies inside one room, then slowly introduce the rest of your home to them.

If you’re keeping your cat outside, you must provide an enclosed space or have fencing they cannot go over, under or through. This is to prevent them from wandering outside your property.  

Essential supplies and equipment

Before bringing your cat home, stock up on essential supplies. To look after you cat, you need:

  • a cat carrier or crate for transportation
  • a collar with identification tag 
  • food and water bowls
  • cat food
  • grooming tools
  • a litter box
  • a cat bed
  • toys.

Looking for something else?

Report a lost or found pet

Do I need to register my animals?

Animal registration and permits

Your responsibilities as a cat owner

Under the Local Animals Law 2017, you must stop your cat from wandering outside your property and disturbing neighbours and local wildlife.  

You also need to:  

Microchipping is a legislative requirement under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

Microchipping your cat means they can always be identified, even if they aren’t wearing a collar.

Cats must be microchipped:

  • before reaching 12 weeks of age
  • when sold (seller’s responsibility)
  • if given away (responsibility on the person giving away the animal).

If your new cat hasn’t been microchipped, a vet can do it for you.

Whenever you move address, you must contact your microchip registry to update your details. You can use Pet Address to find the database your pet’s microchip is registered with.

Desexing prevents unwanted kittens from being impounded every year.

You can get your cat desexed at your local vet.

In Brisbane, you need a permit to keep more than 3 cats.

If keeping more than three cats is allowed under a development approval issued by Council, a permit isn’t required. 

Apply for a permit

In Brisbane, cats must not wander outside the property in which they are kept.

You should keep your cat indoors. If your cat is kept outdoors, you should provide a suitable enclosure or fencing your cat cannot go over, under or through.

Ensuring your cat’s wellbeing and happiness

Taking care of a cat means keeping your cat healthy and happy.

Cats also need mental stimulation and a space where they feel safe. 

Health and wellbeing

To look after your cat’s health:

  • have your cat desexed to avoid reproductive or uterine diseases 
  • schedule annual vet visits for check-ups and vaccinations
  • worm your cat regularly and treat it for fleas
  • keep your cat at a healthy weight.


You should also provide physical and mental stimulation for your cat, such as:

  • scratching poles
  • cat runs
  • various toys.

Safe enclosures

Under the Animals Local Law 2017, cat owners must stop their pets from wandering.


Wandering cats can:

  • spread diseases
  • cause injury to themselves or other cats
  • hurt or kill wildlife
  • cause damage to property.


To help ensure your cat doesn’t wander:

  • keep your cat indoors
  • provide varied forms of entertainment and stimulation such as scratching poles, toys and food 
  • check existing fencing to ensure it’s cat-proof 
  • set aside time to play with your cat
  • train your cat to come to you when you make loud noise
  • install a prefabricated cat run.
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Note

If you suspect your cat has been wandering, use a GPS collar to track its whereabouts.

You must investigate how your cat escapes and take measures to prevent it happening again.

Resources and support for cat owners

Expert advice

Animal Welfare League Queensland is your go-to for information on pet behaviour, care and support.

Visit AWLQ

Do you need a permit?

If you own 4 or more cats, you’ll need to apply for a Council permit.

Get a permit

Lost and found

Council keeps a register of missing and found pets and livestock to help reunite them with their owners.

Report a lost or found pet

Frequently asked questions

The legal requirements for owning a cat in Brisbane include:

  • microchipping your cat
  • providing an adequate enclosure to stop your cat wandering and disturbing your neighbours and wildlife
  • having a permit if you have 4 or more cats.

To stop your cat from roaming, you can:

  • keep your cat indoors
  • set up an enclosed area outside for the cat
  • check that your fencing is cat-proof
  • keep a variety of toys on hand to entertain and stimulate the cat
  • set aside time to play with the cat each day. 

You do not need to register a cat with Council. However, you do need to apply for an animal permit if you have 4 or more cats. 

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Note

Under Queensland Government law, cats must be microchipped. This records a cat’s ownership details on a registry database. Microchipping makes it easy to match lost cats with their owners.

If you have lost your cat, report it to Council as soon as possible. We keep a register of lost and found animals. You can also check if your cat has been found and is being held at Council’s animal rehoming centres. Find out more about reporting a lost or found pet.

You should report any sightings of feral or non-domestic cats. They can cause injury and spread disease to domestic cats and wildlife.  

You can report a non-domestic cat using the online form.

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Note

Feral cats are considered an invasive species.