Animal welfare and farming groups have welcomed the Government's new Cat Management Plan, which addresses the impacts of feral cats on the environment.
The plan includes compulsory de-sexing and microchipping of all cats, and limits the number people can own to four per property.
RSPCA Tasmania CEO Peter West praised the long-awaited plan.
"The things that we do like are things like the fact that now people must de-sex, they must microchip and that there is a much stronger action being taken against feral cats," he said.
The proposed amendments allow farmers to trap, seize or humanely destroy cats on primary production land, which was previously limited to farmers undertaking livestock grazing.
"Nobody likes to see any animal put to sleep but in cases where they are a pest, where they are a feral animal that are destructive and where they are doing harm to other animals and to our farmers, then we need to look at how best to address that," Mr West said.
Under the plan, local government has the option to make bylaws relating to cat management.
The Tasmanian Government has committed $1.44 million over the next four years to support the implementation in partnership with local government.
Next step: cat confinement
Animal welfare organisations hope the next step will include the confinement of cats.
"In submissions to government in relation to the Cat Management Plan, the confinement of cats was something that is worrying to a number of people," Mr West said.
"How you bring that into law or action, that is a tricky thing and I don't think anyone has yet quite got the answer."
David Rees, president of Ten Lives — the largest dedicated cat shelter in Tasmania, said in a statement the organisation welcomed the plan.
"We believe that the next step is to educate and inform the Tasmanian public about the need to contain their cats," he said.
"Containment is better for cats, better for the environment and better for the Tasmanian community."
