After years of limited resources for managing stray and unwanted cats, Tasmania’s north-west will soon get a dedicated cat management facility.
The state government has given $424,600 to Just Cats Tasmania to build the centre in Burnie, addressing growing concerns about feral cats threatening native wildlife in the region.
Currently, only two approved facilities in the state, Just Cats in Mowbray and Ten Lives in New Town, accept surrendered or stray cats by appointment.
Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett announced the funding today, calling it the delivery of an election promise made in 2024.
She said Just Cats secured the funding through a “competitive grant process” run by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania earlier this year.
“The facility will support the Tasmanian Government’s cat management plan which promotes responsible cat ownership, encourages containment and introduces measures to better mitigate cats’ negative impacts on the environment,” Howlett said.
Once complete, the Burnie site will accept surrendered and stray cats, reunite lost pets with their owners and provide veterinary services like desexing and microchipping, Howlett said.
Rachel Beech from Just Cats said their existing centres in the north are already stretched and at “full capacity all the time”.
“We have a wait list for intakes,” she said in a shelter update this week. “We want to help but can only help when the space permits us to.”
Beech said preparations at the Burnie site are well underway.
“We are moving forward with our plans of adding a surrender facility, but there are processes to follow and a building to build,” she said.
