Queensland cat rescuer faces fines and seizure over five cats and a two-cat cap

Lisa Roberts-Daintree, a Russell Island resident and animal welfare campaigner, received a compliance notice from Redland City Council after a neighbour reported her for exceeding the area's two-cat maximum. Council documents obtained by 612 ABC show an inspection of the property turned up no other concerns about welfare, hygiene or containment. She keeps five rescue cats.

The council's letter warned that exceeding two cats breaches its by-laws, and that failing to comply by November 23 could mean a fine, council officers entering her house, and her cats being seized. "While I recognise that this situation has arisen from compassionate action, Council must also ensure that Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2015 is applied consistently and fairly across the community," the letter said, adding that animal limits protect welfare, community amenity and fairness for all residents.

Roberts-Daintree is the spokesperson for Cats Assistance to Sterilise (CATS), a charity that desexes cats to control feral populations. She said four of her cats were rescued from a "traumatic" home and have medical and socialisation issues that make them difficult to rehome, so they would likely be euthanised if impounded. All five cats are now desexed, and she said her goal was simply keeping them off the street where they would breed and kill native wildlife.

The council told her she can apply for a special permit to keep a third cat, but no more. That leaves her choosing which cats stay and which two are surrendered. "That's not fair to the cats," she said.

Her partner, Juergen Holscher, said he has sent dozens of letters to local, state and federal politicians pleading for help. The traffic controller installed cat netting around the entire house and backyard to stop the cats leaving the property, and called the council rigid and uncompromising even though the animals are well looked after and harming no one. He said it felt like they were being asked to kill the cats to protect their welfare. "They've got no compassion, no sympathy, no critical thinking skills," he said. "I'm a traffic controller and fair dinkum, I think I'm brighter than these people."

A Redland City Council spokesperson said the matter is ongoing and declined to comment on an active investigation. Under the council's Subordinate Local Law No. 2 (Animal Management) 2015, residents may keep up to two cats over three months old without approval, and can apply for approval to keep three.