84 Identification of dogs and cats—requirement
(a) the person keeps a dog or cat; and
(b) the dog or cat is required to be identified by a regulation made
for section 83; and
(c) the dog or cat is not identified as required by the regulation.
(a) the person sells a dog or cat; and
(b) the dog or cat, after the sale, is required to be identified by a
regulation made for section 83; and
(c) the dog or cat is not identified as required by the regulation.
84AA Cat registration—applications
(1) An individual who is an owner of a cat may apply to the registrar for
registration of the cat.
Note If the person who owns the cat is under 16 years old, the parent or
guardian living with the person is taken to be the cat’s owner (see s 136).
(2) An application must include the information prescribed by regulation.
84AB Cat registration—approval or refusal
(1) If an application for registration has been made in accordance with
section 84AA, the registrar must, by written notice to the applicant—
(a) register the cat; or
(b) refuse to register the cat.
(2) For subsection (1) (b), the registrar—
(a) must refuse to register the cat if the applicant is disqualified from
keeping a cat or any other animal; or
Note Section 138A deals with disqualification of a person from keeping
an animal.
(b) may refuse to register the cat if—
(i) the cat is not implanted with an identifying microchip as
(ii) the cat is not de-sexed as required under this Act; or
(iii) the registrar reasonably believes that the applicant has
failed, or is unable, to exercise responsible cat
84AC Cat registration—records
If the registrar registers a cat, the registrar must record in the register
the information prescribed by regulation.
84AD Cat registration—duration
The registration of a cat remains in force for 12 months unless it is
sooner surrendered, cancelled or renewed.
84AE Cat registration—renewal reminder notice
(1) The registrar must give the registered keeper of a cat a written notice
(a reminder notice) at least 14 days before the day the cat’s
registration ends.
(2) The reminder notice must state—
(a) the date on which the cat’s registration ends; and
(b) that the registered keeper is required to confirm or update
information about the cat’s registration that is recorded, or that
is required to be recorded, on the register; and
(c) either—
(i) the information about the cat’s registration required to be
confirmed or updated; or
(ii) how the keeper of the cat may electronically access
information on the register about the cat’s registration; and
(d) how the keeper may comply with the notice; and
(e) that it is an offence for the keeper to fail to comply with the
notice before the cat’s registration ends; and
(f) any other information prescribed by regulation.
84AF Cat registration—compliance with renewal reminder
notice
(1) A registered keeper of a cat commits an offence if the keeper—
(a) is given a reminder notice in accordance with section 84AE; and
(b) fails to comply with the reminder notice.
84AG Cat registration—automatic renewal
The registration of a cat is renewed if the registered keeper of the
cat—
(a) is given a reminder notice under section 84AE; and
(b) complies with the reminder notice.
84AH Cat registration numbers and certificates
(1) If the registrar registers a cat, the registrar must give—
(a) a registration number to the cat; and
(b) a registration certificate for the cat to the cat’s registered keeper.
(2) If the registration of a cat is renewed, the registrar must give a
registration certificate for the cat to the cat’s registered keeper.
(3) A registration certificate for a cat must state the information
prescribed by regulation.
(4) If the registrar is satisfied that a registration certificate for a cat has
been stolen, lost, damaged or destroyed, the registrar may give a new
registration certificate to the cat’s registered keeper.
(5) If the registered keeper of a cat asks the registrar for a certified copy
of the cat’s registration certificate, the registrar must give the
registered keeper a copy of the certificate that is certified by the
registrar to be a true copy.
84AI Cat registration—change of owner
(1) This section applies if the registered keeper of a cat transfers
ownership of the cat to another person (the new owner).
(2) The registered keeper of the cat must give the following information
about the new owner to the registrar within 14 days after the day
ownership of the cat is transferred:
(a) name;
(b) address;
(c) if known—
(i) email address; and
(ii) other contact information.
(3) The new owner of the cat must apply to the registrar to be recorded
as the registered keeper of the cat within 14 days after the day
ownership of the cat is transferred.
(5) An application under subsection (3) is taken to be an application to
register the cat under section 84AA.
(6) If the application under subsection (3) is refused, the cat’s registration
is cancelled.
Note As an application under this section is taken to be an application under
s 8AA, the application may be refused on the grounds mentioned in
s 84AB (2).
84AJ Cat registration—cancellation
(1) The registrar must cancel the registration of a cat if—
(a) the registrar is told in writing or becomes aware that the cat has
died; or
(b) the cat is destroyed under this Act; or
(c) the registered keeper of the cat is disqualified from keeping a cat
or any other animal.
(2) The registrar may cancel the registration of a cat if—
(a) the registered keeper of the cat tells the registrar in writing that
the person is no longer the owner of the cat; or
(b) the registrar reasonably believes that the cat’s keeper has failed,
or is unable, to exercise responsible cat management, care or
control; or
(c) the cat is not implanted with an identifying microchip as
(d) the cat is not de-sexed as required under this Act; or
(e) the keeper fails to comply with a notice given in accordance with
section 135A.
Note A cat’s registration is also cancelled if an application to be recorded as
the registered keeper of the cat is refused (see s 84AI (6)).
84AK Offence—keeping unregistered cats etc
(1) A person commits an offence if the person keeps an unregistered cat.
(a) keeps a registered cat; and
(b) is not the cat’s registered keeper.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply if—
(a) the cat is under 56 days old; or
(b) the cat has been kept by the person for less than 28 days; or
(c) the person has been resident in the ACT for less than 28 days.
(5) Subsection (2) does not apply if—
(a) the registered keeper is unable to care for the cat; and
(b) the person is caring for the cat on a temporary basis.
(6) Also, subsection (1) or (2) does not apply to an entity exempted under
section 84AP.
mentioned in ss (4), (5) and (6) (see Criminal Code, s 58).
84AL Cat registration—change of registration details
(1) If any of the registration details of a cat change, the cat’s registered
keeper must tell the registrar, in writing, the new details within 14
days beginning the day after the change.
registration details, of a cat, means the information given to the
registrar by the cat’s registered keeper under section 84AA or
section 84AE.
84AM Cat registration—evidence of registration
(1) A registration certificate or a certified copy of a registration certificate
given under section 84AH is evidence that the cat described in it is,
or was, registered for the period mentioned in the certificate or copy.
(2) A certificate issued by the registrar stating that a stated person was,
or was not, the registered keeper of a stated cat for a stated period is
evidence of that matter.
(3) A document that appears to be a certificate or certified copy of the
certificate given under subsection (2) or section 84AH is taken to be
the certificate or a certified copy of the certificate, unless the contrary
is proved.
84AN Declaration of cat containment
(1) The Minister may declare an area to be an area where cats must be
confined to their keeper’s or carer’s premises at all times or during
stated times if the Minister is satisfied that—
(a) cats are a threat to native flora or fauna in the area; or
(b) for the welfare of cats in the area, it is appropriate to do so.
(2) A declaration is a disallowable instrument.
(3) Unless a declaration is disallowed by the Legislative Assembly, the
declaration commences—
(a) on the day after the last day when it could have been disallowed;
or
(b) if the declaration provides for a later date or time of
commencement—on that date or at that time.
Cat containment Division 4.1B
(4) The Minister must give additional public notice of the making of a
declaration under this section.
Note The requirement in s (4) is in addition to the requirement for notification
on the legislation register as a disallowable instrument.
(5) A declaration under the repealed provision in force immediately
before the day the Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment
Act 2022, section 3 commences is taken to have been made under
subsection (1).
(6) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply to a declaration mentioned in
subsection (5).
(7) In this section:
repealed provision means section 81 as in force immediately before
the day the Domestic Animals Legislation Amendment Act 2022,
section 3 commences.
84AO Breach of cat containment requirements
(1) A cat’s keeper or carer commits an offence if—
(a) the cat is in an area for which a declaration under section 84AN
(a declared containment area) is in force; and
(b) the cat is not confined to the premises of the keeper or carer.
(2) A cat’s keeper or carer commits an offence if—
(a) the cat is in an area other than a declared containment area; and
(b) the cat is not confined to the premises of the keeper or carer.
(3) An offence against subsection (1) or (2) is a strict liability offence.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply—
(a) if the keeper or carer has a reasonable excuse; or
(b) if the cat is effectively controlled by the keeper or carer using a
leash and harness.
(5) Also, subsection (2) does not apply—
(a) if the cat is registered under this division before 1 July 2022; or
(b) if a document shows that the cat was born before 1 July 2022;
or
(c) to an entity exempted under section 84AP; or
(d) if another exception prescribed by regulation applies.
Examples—par (b)
1 veterinary record
2 written opinion from a veterinary practitioner about the cat’s age
3 document about the purchase or transfer of the cat
4 record about the cat’s microchipping
mentioned in ss (4) and (5) (see Criminal Code, s 58).
premises means a completely or partly enclosed space from which a
cat cannot escape, and includes the following:
(a) a building or part of a building;
(b) a vehicle;
(c) a cat cage;
(d) a backyard or courtyard.
Keeping 4 or more cats Division 4.1
84AP Registrar may exempt entities from certain provisions
(1) The registrar may, in writing, exempt an entity from any of the
following provisions if the registrar is satisfied that the entity carries
out activities for the reasonable care and management of stray cats:
(a) section 84AK (1);
(b) section 84AK (2);
(c) section 84AO (2);
(d) section 84A (1).
(2) The registrar may make the exemption subject to a condition.
(3) The Minister may give directions to the registrar about making
exemptions under this section.
(4) A direction is a notifiable instrument.
(5) The registrar must comply with a direction.