FERAL CAT CRISIS: KATTER CALLS FOR BOUNTY TO SAVE WILDLIFE, BIOSECURITY

11 July 2025

“Feral cats are out of control - they’re tearing through native birdlife and small mammals, not just out in the bush, but right in the middle of our towns,” KAP Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said.

Mr Katter is calling for a State-funded cat bounty across North West Queensland, saying feral cats are wreaking havoc on native wildlife, threatening livestock, and spreading dangerous diseases.

“It’s a slaughter. We know they kill around 12% of Australia’s birds every year - and yet we hear nothing from the green warriors who are usually first to the microphone when there’s a mining project to protest,” Mr Katter said.

“If you genuinely care about the environment, you should be screaming for action on this. The silence is deafening.”

“It’s getting so bad, now in parts of my electorate that cats aren’t moving off the road when a road train approaches.”

Mr Katter praised the Richmond Shire Council for taking initiative by offering a bounty on feral cats - but said it shouldn’t be left up to cash-strapped councils to foot the bill.

“This is a State issue. It’s an ecological disaster and a biosecurity threat,” he said.

“Feral cats can spread lethal diseases, as well, which is a real concern to livestock producers.”

Mr Katter said the State Government must immediately fund a regional cat bounty scheme and overhaul the Biosecurity Act to reflect the scale of the threat posed by feral cats.

“If the State Government is serious about biosecurity, public health and protecting our native species, it must act now.”

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