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Victorian councils lead the way in cat ownership and rules as Federal Government proposes cat cap

Pet owners could be forced to abide by new pet ownership laws as the federal government proposes a $60m plan to protect native wildlife. But Victoria is already leading the way.

‘Enormous threat’: Feral cats killing ‘six million animals every night’

Pet owners who want to create their own personal household farms might be forced to count their days as the federal government looks to introduce a household cap on fur babies.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced more than $60m of taxpayers’ money would fund 55 projects to combat feral cats and protect Australian wildlife.

Tanya Plibersek is set to announce more details about the cat scheme. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow
Tanya Plibersek is set to announce more details about the cat scheme. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow

The proposal comes after research showed an estimated 500 million native animals were killed by cats every year.

Other considerations being made include the possibility of introducing cat curfews, desexing requirements and cat-free suburbs for native wildlife hotspots.

Already ahead of the game, the City of Greater Dandenong Council has a dusk-to-dawn curfew for cats.

The council’s community strengthening executive director Peta Gillies said a

handy tool from Dandenong council the federal government could support was a digital communications system for pet owners.

“We introduced a communications system using email and SMS systems for registration reminders,” she said.

“We also use the SMS system to issue fireworks warnings to pet owners in the vicinity of large community celebrations – we were able to directly contact more than 1000 registered pet owners within a 2km radius of the event.”

Ms Gillies said community members dobbed in cats seen outside of curfew.

“The community help us enforce the curfew by reporting cats that are not confined to their properties in curfew hours,” she said.

Neighbouring council, the City of Casey also has a cat curfew in place.

The council’s connect communities manager Callum Pattie said the 24-hour curfew has been in place for more than a quarter of a century and hefty financial consequences applied for those who didn’t follow it.

“If a cat is found outside of its owner’s property at any time, and is registered with Council, the cat is returned home and the owner is given a warning on the first occurrence,” he said.

“Unregistered cats are taken to the pound and the owner will be issued with $99 infringement penalty for not containing their cat, as well as a $395 fine for the animal being unregistered and a $545 collection fee.”

Thefederal government’s proposal might scare some, but many Victorian councils have already led the way with curfews, desexing regulations and mandatory registration, which could give a framework for the federal government going forward.

Currently 52 of 79 Victorian councils have a cat curfew in place, up from 47 in 2022.

Councils with a cat curfew:

Alpine Shire Council has a dusk to dawn cat curfew in place.

Ballarat Council has enforced a sunset to sunrise curfew, and owners will fined if not abiding by the curfew.

Bass Coast Council has a 24-hour containment rule — cats must be on their home properties at all times.

Baw Baw Shire Council has ordered cats must be on their home properties at all times.

Bayside Council has a cat curfew between 9pm and 6am during daylight savings and 8pm to 6am other times.

Benalla Rural City Council has a 24-hour cat confinement order to their home property.

Buloke Council has a 24 hour cat confinement and also requires residents to have a permit for more than two animals on one property.

Cardinia Council has a 24-hour cat confinement order in place.

Casey Council has a 24-hour cat confinement rule that has been in place since 1999.

Colac-Otway Council has a sunset and sunrise curfew which was brought in 2023.

Darebin Council has a 7pm to 7am curfew for cats.

East Gippsland Shire Council has had a containment rule for cats in place since 2003, where all pet cats must be inside their property 24 hours a day.

Frankston City Council has a two cat/two dog policy, and a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Glenelg Shire Council imposes a cat curfew on all domestic cats from 7pm to 7am.

Greater Bendigo Council has a 24 hour confinement rule for cats.

Greater Dandenong Council has a dusk-to-dawn curfew for cats in place.

Greater Geelong City Council has a dusk until dawn cat curfew.

Greater Shepparton City Council has a 24 hour property confinement rule for feline family members.

Hepburn Shire Council has a 24/7 confinement rule for cats.

Hindmarsh Shire Council has a dusk-to-dawn curfew for cats.

Horsham Council has a sunset to sunrise curfew for roaming cats.

Indigo Shire Council has a strict 24-hour cat curfew.

52 Victorian councils have cat curfews in place.
52 Victorian councils have cat curfews in place.

Kingston Council has a sunset to sunrise curfew for cats.

Knox Council has a 24-hour property confinement rule for cats.

Latrobe City Council has a 9pm to 6am curfew for cats with a fine penalty if cats are caught outside their homes during these hours.

Loddon Shire Council has a 24-hour confinement rule for cats.

Macedon Ranges Council requires cats to be inside their properties between sunset and sunrise.

Manningham City Council has a 24-hour confinement rule for cats in the municipality.

Many councils have the curfews in place to protect native wildlife.
Many councils have the curfews in place to protect native wildlife.

Maroondah Council requires cats to be inside during hours between sunset and sunrise.

Merri-bek Council enforces a cat curfew, where owners are required to have their cats inside overnight.

Mitchell Shire Council enforces a cat curfew, in placed from sunset to sunrise, where cats must be contained to their registered homes.

Monash Council does enforce a cat curfew, from sunset or 7pm (whichever is later) to sunrise.

Moonee Valley Council does impose a cat curfew, between sunset and sunrise.

Moorabool Council imposes a sunset to sunrise curfew, in order to reduce nuisance caused by cats, reduce the potential for unwanted breeding and to protect natural wildlife.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has imposed a cat curfew, where owners are required to confine cats 24 hours a day to their registered property.

Mount Alexander Shire imposes a cat curfew in place from sunset to sunrise.

Nillumbik Shire Council has a 7.30pm to 6am cat curfew, to help prevent roaming cats attacking and killing native wildlife in green wedge areas, fighting with other cats, and creating a nuisance on neighbours’ properties.

Port Phillip Council has a cat curfew from 9pm to 6am.

Pyrenees Shire Council has an overnight cat curfew – requiring owners to confine their cats to their home property overnight.

Queenscliffe Borough Council has a cat curfew in place from sunset to sunrise, to protect native wildlife and minimise public nuisance.

South Gippsland Shire Council has a 24-hour cat curfew.

Southern Grampians Shire Council has a sunset to sunrise cat curfew.

The proposal could also include a pet-cap, limiting the amount of pets Australians can have in one household.
The proposal could also include a pet-cap, limiting the amount of pets Australians can have in one household.

Surf Coast Shire Council has imposed an 8pm to 6am curfew for cats, however the curfew doesn’t apply to rural zoned areas in the planning scheme – particularly farms – as they are instrumental in controlling vermin.

Towong Shire Council has a 9pm to 6am curfew for cats.

Warrnambool City Council does enforce a curfew, where cats are required to be inside from sunset to sunrise, to protect other species.

Wellington Shire Council has a 24-hour cat confinement order in place.

Whitehorse Council has a strict a cat curfew in place, requiring cats to be confined indoors or in a suitable enclosure on the owners property between 8pm and 6am.

Whittlesea also requires cats to be contained to their property 24 hours a day.

Wodonga City Council has a cat curfew in place, requiring cats must be confined to their owner’s property between 7pm and 7am, seven days a week.

Wyndham Council has a strict a cat curfew in place, requiring cats to be confined indoors or in a suitable enclosure on the owner’s property between 10pm and 6am.

Yarra Council has a 7pm to 7am cat curfew in place.

Yarra Ranges Council has a 24/7 cat curfew in place meaning residents must keep their cats within their property boundary at all times.

Many Victorian councils already have cat caps – where if people want more than two feline friends in their homes, they need to obtain a permit.
Many Victorian councils already have cat caps – where if people want more than two feline friends in their homes, they need to obtain a permit.

Councils without a curfew:

Ararat council has no curfew.

Banyule Council does not currently have a cat curfew in place but will trial a 7pm to 7am curfew next year.

Boroondara Council doesn’t have a cat curfew, but encourages residents to keep cats on property and inside, particularly during dusk – dawn hours, as 80 per cent of accidents with cats happen during the night.

Brimbank Council has no curfew, but has one under consideration.

Campaspe Council requires people to get a permit to own more than two cats or dogs, but no curfew.

Central Goldfields Shire Council has a two dog/two cat permit system but no curfew.

Corangamite Council has a two cat and two dog rule in the township, and a five cats and dog on rural properties, but no confinement or curfew rules. Owners are however encouraged pet owners to keep cats on property.

Feral and stray cats are killing millions of native animals a year, according to the federal government. Photo: Chris McCormack.
Feral and stray cats are killing millions of native animals a year, according to the federal government. Photo: Chris McCormack.

Gannawarra Council currently doesn’t have a cat curfew, but is “exploring the possible types, we believe a curfew is required to reduce wildlife predation between sunset and sunrise”.

Glen Eira Council does not enforce a cat curfew, but does encourage owners to keep their cats inside over night.

Golden Plains Shire Council has no curfew but encourages residents to keep cats inside at night.

Hobsons Bay Council does not have a cat curfew in place.

Hume City Council doesn’t have a cat curfew, but requires felines to have a bell attached to their collars to protect local wildlife and is currently considering a curfew.

Mansfield Shire Council is considering a cat curfew but has nothing in place.

Maribyrnong City Council has no curfew in place but has reached out to the community for its thoughts on the potential of introducing one in the near future.

Melbourne City Council recommends owners keep their cats inside for the safety of their pets and other wildlife, but doesn’t actively enforce a curfew.

Melton Council does not have a cat curfew.

Mildura Rural City Council doesn’t have a cat curfew, but requires all cats to be confined to their home properties.

Cat curfews and caps on households could reduce the amount of wildlife attacks across the country. Picture: QLD Department of Agriculture
Cat curfews and caps on households could reduce the amount of wildlife attacks across the country. Picture: QLD Department of Agriculture

Moira Shire Council doesn’t have a cat curfew, however it is strongly suggested owners confine their cats to their registered home properties.

Moyne Shire council does not have a curfew currently in place.

Murrindindi Council does not enforce a cat curfew, but they do encourage community members to keep their cats at home.

Northern Grampians Shire Council does not impose a cat curfew, but has a complete cat ban in the Halls Gap area.

Stonnington City Council does not have a cat curfew but is currently consulting with the community to potentially introduce one.

Strathbogie Shire does not enforce a curfew.

Swan Hill Council does not currently have a cat curfew in place, however a 24-hour confinement order for cats will start on January 1 in 2025.

Wangaratta Council does not have a cat curfew.

West Wimmera Shire Council current has no cat curfew in place.

Yarriambiack Council does not have a cat curfew, but does strongly encourage owners to confine their cats to their registered properties overnight.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/melbourne-city/victorian-councils-lead-the-way-in-cat-ownership-and-rules-as-federal-government-proposes-cat-cap/news-story/b4fdeec1ec5656f9b3161fa6b04e5c4a