In Victoria, the control of feral cats is carried out by staff from the department and agencies, along with their representatives, to ensure that efforts are focused on safeguarding the threatened wildlife that is most vulnerable to predation by feral cats. Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CALP Act), Cats (feral or wild) are declared as an established pest species on specified Crown land in Victoria.

1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) and PAPP (4-aminopropiophenone) are chemicals approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for pest animal control in Victoria. Victoria regulates the use and supply of 1080 and PAPP based products for the control of declared feral cats. Curiosity is a meat-based poison bait containing PAPP, designed for feral cats. Felixer, on the other hand, is an automated grooming trap device that sprays a toxic gel (containing 1080) on feral cats as they pass by, relying on their grooming habits to ingest the poison.

Feral cats

Feral cats are a serious threat to native species and have caused the extinction of some native ground-dwelling birds and mammals.

Forty-three threatened species are listed in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and are at increased risk of extinction as a direct result of feral cats.

DEECA has advised that unless feral cats are strategically managed on key areas of public land, critically endangered native species such as the Helmeted Honeyeater, Mountain-pygmy Possum and Plains Wanderer may be pushed into extinction in the wild.

Feral cats can also carry diseases, which can be transmitted to native animals, domestic livestock and humans.

Feral cats were declared as pest animals on specified Crown land in July 2018 as an important milestone in the protection of Victoria’s biodiversity and threatened wildlife. Specified Crown land is Crown land managed by DEECA, Parks Victoria, Phillip Island Nature Parks, and the four Alpine Resorts, other than excluded Crown land. Excluded Crown land means land held under a lease or licence and any unused road bordered on both sides by freehold land.

Curiosity feral cat bait

Curiosity Feral Cat Bait (Curiosity) is a bait product for the control of declared feral cats that contains the active constituent PAPP (para-aminopropiophenone). Curiosity may only be used on specified Crown land under a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria to Victorian public land managers.

Additional controls have been established under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992 (the Act) to regulate the supply and use of this product.

Curiosity is designed to target feral cats and limit risks to native species. The bait is a skinless sausage containing a small hard plastic pellet, which contains the toxin (PAPP). The pellet is designed to dissolve in the stomach of the feral cat, who tend to swallow large chunks of food as they do not have grinding molars. Research demonstrates that most native animals will reject the plastic pellet as they tend to nibble and chew their food.

PAPP is considered a more humane poison than 1080.

Felixer feral cat device

The Felixer device is a 1080 based grooming trap for the control of declared feral cats. It uses visual targeting technology to spray cats, but not other species, with sodium fluoroacetate poison (commonly known as 1080). The sprayed cat then ingests the toxin when they groom.Felixer device may only be used on specified Crown land under a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria to Victorian public land managers.

Additional controls have recently been established under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992 (the Act) to allow the supply and use of this product. The Felixer device may only be used on specified Crown land under a permit issued by Agriculture Victoria to Victorian public land managers.

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

Authorisation to use

Neither Curiosity nor the Felixer device are available for use by the general public. The supply and use of Felixer and PAPP for the control of declared feral cats has been restricted to persons operating under a specific permit issued from Agriculture Victoria.

Only public land managers (e.g. Parks Victoria) will be eligible to obtain a permit to authorise the use of Felixer and PAPP for feral cat control. Permits issued by Agriculture Victoria will detail the persons or class of persons authorised to use Felixer and/or Curiosity under the permit. The persons authorised under a permit to use Felixer and/or Curiosity will need to hold the appropriate licence or permit to use 1080 and PAPP, such an Agricultural Chemical User Permit endorsed for 1080 and PAPP or a vermin-endorsed Commercial Operator Licence.

Curiosity permit applicants are required to complete the Risk assessment for the use of Curiosity feral cat bait in Victoria, available from the DEECA Biodiversity Division and submit the risk assessment with their application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek advice from DEECA when undertaking this risk assessment.

Applicants for a permit to use Felixer or Curiosity should allow at least six weeks for a decision on their permit application.

The permit requirement has been established by a Governor in Council Order made under section 25A of the Act, which regulates the use of  1080 and PAPP. Feral cats are only a declared species on specified Crown land. Therefore, the control of feral cats can only occur on specified Crown land.

For further information about applying for a permit to use Felixer or Curiosity, please contact the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186.