<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A growing number of Victorian councils are implementing stricter cat curfews and fines for owners as the RSPCA launches a new campaign to stop the animals from roaming Melbourne's streets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The "Rethink Roaming" campaign, prompted by data showing skyrocketing death rates among prowling pets, aims to highlight the dangers faced by cats allowed to roam freely.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It includes an online tool designed to illustrate the risks to which cats are exposed when they leave their properties, including train lines, main roads, and snakes. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/western-australia-kalgoorlie-boulder-stinky-town-notices-an-improvement-after-adding-lime-to-source-of-odour/9aaedbe6-66a5-46a6-86f2-3521881903c7"><strong><span>Stinky town notices an improvement after expert sniffs out source of odour</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span></span></strong><span>The campaign also seeks to address the environmental impact of roaming cats on wildlife.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Nine out of 10 cats that go missing are not reunited with their owners… and that is a really terrible statistic," Rebecca Cook from RSPCA Victoria said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than half of Victoria's 79 councils currently have cat curfews in place, predominantly from sunset to sunrise. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-stray-cats/d0f99433-f234-46d5-b9f5-21dfdfeab119" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Four councils have implemented 24-hour restrictions: Yarra Ranges, Wellington Shire Council, Surf Coast Shire, and Knox City Council, which imposes a $91 fine for first offences and $545 for repeated breaches. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-customers-to-recieve-personal-information-about-data-stolen-in-cyber-attack/b62d3b0b-52aa-4a7d-86fb-6a584bacdd45"><strong><span>The email six million Australians should expect from Qantas</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On top of the fines, owners may also have to pay to retrieve their pet from the pound.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From October 1, the City of Melbourne will introduce a nighttime cat curfew, with cats also banned from entering major parks and gardens unless they're in a carrier, wearing a harness or on a leash.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Animal behaviourist Naomi Thompson said there are ways to keep cats entertained and contained indoors. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Elevated spaces, having cat trees… different beds," she said.'</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We get them anything that would move like prey would move. And that will kind of create that for them inside."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of </span></em><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>