Australian cats face curfew

The average cat kills 35 creatures a year

It is not just delinquent youths that may soon face curfews in South Australia.

The state's authorities are considering asking owners to keep their cats in at night to stop them snacking on native birds, lizards and small mammals in protected areas.

The state Environment Minister, John Hill, told the BBC that cats could also be banned from living near national parks and areas of environmental interest.

"We are particularly looking at limiting cats in areas that are environmentally sensitive, so housing departments next to national parks or important reserve systems could well be areas where we would exclude the ownership of cats, or impose some sort of curfew on cats," he told the World Today programme.

He said some native species had already been lost, and new measures were needed to control the growing population of both wild and pet cats.

Many owners train their cats to stay in at night anyway, or build a run for them next to the house, he said.

The state government is discussing the proposals with local councils.