Starting in October, pet cats in Melbourne, Australia, must stay indoors from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The Melbourne City Council voted to introduce this new rule to help protect native animals and prevent cats from roaming freely at night.
As part of the changes, cats will also be banned from visiting the city’s parks, gardens, and waterways unless they are on a leash and with their owner. This rule will apply at all times, not just at night.
Local leaders say the curfew is important because roaming cats can hunt and harm wildlife. Cats are known to kill millions of small animals every year, including birds, reptiles, and native mammals. The city hopes the new rules will help keep these animals safe.
However, not everyone agrees. Councillor Andrew Rowse believes the curfew doesn’t go far enough. He says cats can still hunt during the day, so more action might be needed to truly protect wildlife.
Even though opinions differ, the new law is a big step toward caring for nature in Melbourne.
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