Felixer cartridge now permitted for use against feral cats in Victoria

19 November 2025

Efforts to protect native birds and other animals from feral cats will be boosted thanks to a new tool open for permit applications in Victoria.

The Felixer cartridge system will be able to be used in Victoria for the first time, following introduction of additional controls under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992 to allow the supply and use of 1080 via the Felixer product solely for the purpose of feral cat eradication.

The Felixer device can only be used on specified Crown land under a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria to senior public land managers.

No other 1080 products may be used to control feral cats in Victoria.

Applications by public land managers can be submitted to Agriculture Victoria for robust assessment.

Agriculture Victoria executive director Dr Trevor Pisciotta said the cartridge visually targets and detects feral cats, spraying them with sodium fluoroacetate (1080), which the sprayed cat ingests when it grooms.

‘These are one of several tools which, deployed strategically and as part of a whole system response, strengthen our biosecurity approach against feral cats,’ Dr Pisciotta said.

The Felixer cartridge was approved by the federal regulator Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority as a registered product in February 2023.

It is anticipated the Felixer cartridge will be most commonly used in remote and controlled areas – meaning no risk to domestic pets.

This follows a $1.3 million investment into 3 cat management initiatives, including the state’s first long-term integrated cat management strategy, a targeted desexing program and an awareness campaign in partnership with RSPCA Victoria.

Media contact: media@deeca.vic.au