The Causeway, with just 67 homes, mostly public housing, is adjacent to the Jerrabomberra Wetlands which Territories Minister Shane Rattenbury said was one of the most valuable wetland habitats in the ACT and of national and international importance as a refuge for migrating birds and supporting frog, reptile and mammal species.

To date, the ACT's cat containment program has been almost entirely confined to new suburbs  –  mainly in Gungahlin and the Weston Creek suburbs. The planned expansion to the Causeway, and into the Kingston Foreshore, represents the first time it will be extended into a long-established suburb.

As to whether other older suburbs near reserves might be declared cat containment areas, Mr Rattenbury said the Causeway and Casey would "serve as somewhat of a case study as to how we might look to retrofit similar sensitive areas that have established residential development".

"There is no doubt that there are significant impacts from roaming cats on wildlife like birds, bats and reptiles. However, a Canberra-wide containment approach would require full community consultation, a long-term transition strategy and the resources to ensure that it is implemented properly and complied with," he said.

When Jacka was declared a cat containment area, the start date was pushed out to January 2017 to give cat owners time to adjust, and Mr Rattenbury is also looking at a delayed start in the Causeway and Casey.

​He has called for public feedback on the start date, suggesting dates from the start of 2017 to the start of 2018. In the case of the Causeway, the government also wants feedback on how far the containment zone should be extended into the Kingston foreshore.

The proposed cat containment area covering the Causeway and Kingston Foreshore. Photo: Supplied

In cat containment suburbs, cats can be kept indoors, but only taken outdoors on a harness or leash, or in a purpose-built enclosure. Cats found not properly contained can be seized and their owners fined up to $1500.

"There are a number of ways cats can be contained whilst remaining happy and healthy, including keeping them indoors or providing a purpose-built enclosure that will give shelter as well as access to the outdoors," Mr Rattenbury said, stressing the benefits not only to native wildlife but also to the cats themselves.

"The risk of fights with other animals and traffic incidents are avoided, keeping cats safe, happy and healthy," he said.

Mr Rattenbury said areas could be declared cat containment areas where cats posed a serious threat to native wildlife. In Casey, the proximity to the Kinlyside Nature Reserve meant native wildlife was at risk of predation by roaming cats, he said.

To date, the following suburbs have been declared cat containment areas:

• Gungahlin: Bonner, Crace, Forde, Jacka (from 2017), Lawson, Moncrieff, Throsby, Wright
• Molonglo Valley: Coombs, Denman Prospect, Molonglo
• Watson: The Fair

The government is holding drop-in sessions for residents as follows:

• The Causeway community hall on Tuesday, December 8, 6pm-7pm
• The Eastlake Football Club in Kingston on Wednesday, December 9, 6pm-8pm
• The Gungahlin Library on Tuesday, December 15, 6pm-8pm

The government's invitation for public comment is open until February 12.