COUNCILS in Tasmania's north and south are forging ahead with plans to introduce strict cat control measures.
Kingborough Council, in the south, is assisting a community committee on Bruny Island to make it completely cat free.
Island residents are working on a plan to reduce, or eliminate feral cats, to protect wildlife and reduce animal health risks, Bruny Island Environment Network spokesman Bob Graham said.
The plan would oversee the Bruny Island Cat Management project, with the long term aim of making the community cat-free.
"The first thing is to fairly quickly try and establish some baselines, in respect to a number of things – first of all the attitudes and opinions of people about cats," Mr Graham said.
Other priorities included gathering data on the extent of the problem and which areas of the island were hot-spots for feral cats
"The third thing is to look at trapping and removal of feral cats," he said.
The committee was mindful of the effect of feral cats on primary industry, particularly sheep producers in the north.
"There has been too much focus on either or – animal health, or wildlife – rather than the cats themselves; cats are the problem, so we have to focus on cats," Mr Graham said.
Last week, Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrews tweeted some graziers were reporting 75-100 per cent of sheep on Kangaroo Island, in South Australia, were infected with sarcocystosis, due to feral cats.
He was told during a visit last week there were an estimated 5000 feral cats on Kangaroo Island.
Moves to reduce feral cat numbers also follow concerns Tasmania has the highest rate of the cat-borne parasite, toxoplasma gondii in Australia.
The report showed 84.2pc of the 266 stray and feral cats sampled tested positive for the parasite.
The extent of toxoplasmosis was uncovered in a state-wide study, conducted by the University of Tasmania's Bronwyn Fancourt and Biosecurity Tasmania senior veterinary officer Bruce Jackson.
It causes abortions in maiden ewes and, in rare instances, can cause the death of a foetus in pregnant women.
Sarcocystosis results in the downgrading of sheep carcases.
In the north, Meander Valley council was also commencing work on cat control measures.
"We have formed a cat management steering committee, and I am helping to write a by-law at the moment, with the aim of registering cats," Mr Knowles said.
The by-law might also look at compulsory desexing and microchipping, along the lines of dog control, he said.
The Landcare group had continued to put traps out for feral cats around the town of Meander, following concerns of toxoplasmosis in sheep.
"We hope to seek further funds from the Federal Government to expand the cat trapping program in rural areas," Mr Knowles said.
The group has been carrying out an extensive trapping program in the area, although no cats had been caught over Christmas.
A young Tasmanian devil and a quoll had been caught and released unharmed.
"You don't usually get quolls until the cats are gone," Mr Knowles said.
Livestock Biosecurity Network regional officer Jess Coad said there was always a risk from feral cats.
"Cat control, in relation to animal health, can be important – as well as environmental and other factors," Dr Coad said.
Meanwhile, a review of Tasmanian's Cat Management Act is believed to have been handed to the Agriculture Minister Jeremy Rockliff.
The internal review is believed to make recommendations on controlling feral cats, where they are a problem.
Mr Rockliff has said Biosecurity Tasmania would place a significant focus on controlling feral cats.
