Cats in New South Wales, Australia: rules and travel
In NSW every dog and cat must be microchipped by 12 weeks and registered once for life on the NSW Pet Registry through the local council. Fees are higher for pets that are not desexed.
Registration is state-wide through the NSW Pet Registry, but councils collect fees, run off-leash areas and declare dangerous dogs.
The national rules for Australia apply here too. National rules
Registration and microchip
Cats are registered once for life. Inner West Council fees from 1 July 2026: desexed cat $74, pensioner $37. A cat that is not desexed pays $74 plus a $104 annual permit.[1]
typical 74 AUD, 37 to 178 AUD lifetime
All cats must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age, or when ownership is first transferred, whichever comes first.[1]
Cat tax
No cat tax. Non-desexed cats pay an annual permit of $104 (Inner West, 2026).[1]
Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.