Prominent Australian conservationists have co-signed a letter from former ACT chief minister Jon Stanhope urging the ACT government to bring forward a cat containment declaration for Canberra.

The ACT government has been considering widening cat containment beyond the new suburbs to cover all of the territory, after falling behind other states on the issue. The Conservation Council ACT, which initiated the letter and 30 signatures of scientists and environmentalists, found strong community support for cat containment when it raised awareness in mail-outs and media campaigns.

Victoria Worley, of Kingston, keeps her four cats in an enclosure attached to her house. Credit:Melissa Adams

Mr Stanhope says one signature from the ACT Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Shane Rattenbury would help prevent the decline of Australia's native species in Canberra by containing roaming domestic cats.