Depending on where you live, cats milling about outside could be a pretty common thing.
Even if it's not all that common, it's not an outrageous thing to see considering cats are pretty independent and are known for exploring beyond the confines of their home.
But that could be a thing of the past in Western Australia to ensure people don't get attacked by the felines. The state government is looking at legislation that could ban cats from going outside at night or even altogether.
WARA president Dene Lawrence told Perth Now: "Greater enforcement powers to authorised officers and further amendments to dog barking offences are also required."
According to the Daily Mail, around 25 people in Perth are taken to hospital with animal related bites every week.
Legislators upped the fine if their dog bites a human to $10,000 or one year in prison in 2013, however a review has found that those penalties are inadequate. So this could penalty could be raised again.
Local government minister David Templeman said: "The state government is committed to ensuring this important legislation is up to date and fit for purpose in the control and management of cats and dogs in Western Australia.
"From encouraging responsible pet ownership, keeping the community and other animals safe, reuniting lost pets with their owners to reducing the number of animals that are admitted to shelters and euthanised, the legislation impacts the whole community.
"We are now seeking community feedback to ensure that the operation and effectiveness of these laws meet community expectations.
"Local governments do a terrific job in administering the laws in their local communities and their feedback is also encouraged."
If you think this is wild, well a Darwin council voted to restrict the number of barks a dog could make before the owner would be fined.
The City of Darwin Council has just passed new legislation that will see pet owners investigated if their pooch barks for more than three minutes.
Specifically, the law kicks in when a dog has been yapping for more than three minutes in a 30-minute window at night, as well as six minutes in an hour during the daytime.
But it seems as though the City of Darwin Council has recognised that sometimes dogs just need to bark.
That's why they've added in exemptions to the rule, allowing incessant barking when emergency service vehicles go by with sirens blazing, when a storm is pouring down, when the mail comes to your door and when there's lots of people walking past your property.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Community, Animals, Australia