Confine your pet

Whenever your dog is outside of your property, keep them on a leash unless you're in a designated off-leash area like a dog park.

Letting your dog off-leash in other public places may incur a fine of $182 or a court charge of $363.

Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, all dogs must be securely kept within their home. The best way to do this is to ensure they have a safe, enclosed space in your backyard.

This not only keeps your dog safe but also reduces the chances of incidents where your dog might scare or harm people or other animals near your home.

If your dog rushes at or chases someone, we may need to declare your dog as ‘menacing’. This means you'll have to keep them leashed and muzzled in public at all times.

Failing to follow these rules, we may then declare your dog to be a ‘dangerous dog’. There are very strict controls on the housing, exercise and ownership of dangerous dogs.

Learn more on the dangerous dogs and restricted breeds page

If your dog attacks a person or animal, you are legally responsible.

This could mean other heavy fines or court action, and in severe cases, your dog might be put down or declared dangerous.

Keeping your dog secure on your property keeps everyone safe. 

When your dog is confined, it can help prevent accidents like traffic injuries and fights with other dogs. It also protects them from getting lost.

Most importantly, it helps prevent dog attacks, which can be distressing, especially if a child or vulnerable person is involved.

Why should you keep your cat indoors?

Confining your cat indoors can greatly reduce their risk of:

• Getting hit by a car or injured by other animals
• Catching common illnesses like cat flu, ringworm, or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
• Being poisoned by toxic plants, pesticides or bites from spiders and snakes
• Getting lost
• Being exposed to extreme weather conditions. 

Keeping your cat indoors not only protects them from these hazards, but also contributes to their overall safety and wellbeing.

Transitioning your cat to an at-home lifestyle

The RSPCA has lots of great resources to help you get your cat used to living indoors. They call it transitioning your cat to an "at-home lifestyle".

Like many people now working from home, cats can also thrive in an indoor environment. Keeping your cat at home, also known as cat containment, means your cat stays on your property at all times. You can start this change with a cat at any age.

Take it slow and allow both you and your cat to get used to a new routine. Gradually, your cat will see that staying indoors can be enjoyable. Kittens usually adapt quickly if they're kept indoors from a young age. For adult cats that are used to being outdoors, begin by keeping them inside at night and then slowly extend their indoor time during the day.

Cats can still enjoy the outdoors on your property with the help of enclosures, netting and cat-proofing. 

You can also take them out on a leash, in a cat carrier or cat pram if they're securely harnessed and under control.

Here are some great DIY enclosures that you can create:

Removable cat enclosures suitable for renters

Watch this video to learn how to make a cat enclosure that you can take with you when you move. It's perfect for renters and easy to set up and take down. Create a safe outdoor space for your cat that can go wherever you go.

Spinning pipe cat enclosure

Learn how to add spinning pipes to your fence to keep your cat in and other cats out. This keep your yard secure and your cat safe. Download and print our easy-to-follow instructions to build your own.

Rolling fence paddle

Watch this video to see how you can use special rolling paddles to make fences in small spaces cat-proof. It's a great way to make sure your cat stays within your yard without escaping.

Different cat enclosures

Here are some more ideas for different cat enclosures. These designs can help keep your cat happy and safe. 

More useful resources:

• Cat proof fencing - further information on how to add rollers to your fence to stop cats from climbing over or set up cat enclosures. Rollers make it hard for cats to get a grip and jump over.
• Building a cat enclosure attached to an existing structure. You can attach enclosures to parts of your home like the house itself, porch or shed.
• Cat Hacks blog - useful tips on how to keep your cat entertained, happy and well-rested.
• Resources from the RSPCA - find lots of information about keeping your cat safe.

Keep visiting this page for more tips on helping your cat adjust to being safely confined. 

The Cat Protection Society of Victoria has praised the recent decision by Whittlesea Council to introduce a 24-hour cat curfew and mandatory cat desexing for newly registered cats, in a bid to not only protect the safety of cats, but also the environment and wildlife.

“We applaud any decision that will benefit the wellbeing of cats in general. Many local councils throughout the country have already mandated cat curfews, and we’ve been an advocate of cat management for a number of years,” said The Cat Protection Society of Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ian Crook.

“A cat that is allowed to roam free has an average life expectancy of only three years, compared to a cat that is confined which has fifteen years plus, so the benefits to a cat are enormous. 

“Addressing issues such as cat curfews and mandatory desexing also helps to control overpopulation and cat colonies, which often result in extensive loss of wildlife, illness for the cats, and positive welfare outcomes for pet cats.”

CEO Ian Crook

Marija's story

“I fully support the new regulations as I am all for keeping cats safe and confined! Ever since I got a cat, I have been looking for ways to keep her confined to my courtyard in Epping, where she is safe without impacting her wellbeing.

My cat Piper, who was adopted from a rescue, ended up in a shelter initially because she escaped. After Piper managed to jump the back fence and escape, leading to a very stressful day of searching, I decided to start proofing the fences in my courtyard.

My backyard is not very large, so I felt the best way to cat-proof it was to put cat netting around it. It was an easy DIY project with help from my family, and it didn't take much time at all. It was fairly inexpensive too, and I sourced the materials from Catnets and Bunnings.

When researching cat proofing options, the best resource I found was the Agriculture Victoria – enclosures and fencing website. It has an entire section on cat confinement, including information, plans and DIY info on various types of cat enclosures as well as where to purchase materials. I also found useful information on the Catnets website and the Bunnings Cat Hacks Australia group on Facebook. These are great resources for everyone - owners, renters, DIYers – I would highly recommend them.

People often think that cat proofing your yard or making a cat enclosure is a difficult and expensive task, but it doesn't have to be – you are only limited to your financial options and your imagination!

Piper is very happy to have the backyard to explore and enjoy some fresh air. I enjoy gardening and have lots of bird and insect attracting plants, so there is still lots going on in there. As Piper is a nomad, she still gets to go for a wonder outside – safely on a lead and harness.

We regularly go out for walks with the dog too, and she enjoys this very much. Walking a cat is a great conversation starter! Piper and Woofy (my dog) are well known in my area and people are always delighted to see them out on a walk together. If you are wondering whether to explore harness walking your cat – if your cat wants to go outside, absolutely go for it.

For me, keeping the cat safely on my property is a no-brainer – compared to the vet costs to treat an accident or injury, a cat enclosure is well worth it, and the peace of mind of knowing my cat is safe while still having outdoor access is priceless.”

Cat confinement means cats are not allowed outside of your property and are secured to your property at all times.

Yes, as long as you have effective control in a securely fitted harness, or the cat is in a carrier.

We have introduced a 24 hour cat confinement to help protect your cats’ welfare. The decision was guided by feedback from our Domestic Animal Management Plan consultation, community consultation, reports about nuisance cats, reports of environmental impacts of cats in parks and reserves and reports of attacks on wildlife.

These rules are part of our Domestic Animal Management Plan for 2021-2025, which also includes new rules about mandatory desexing for newly registered cats. They are designed to make sure our community is a great place for cats and their owners.

Want to know more about how these decisions were made? Check out our Cat Management community consultation. 

If residents have issues with cats trespassing, the resident can request a cat trap from the Council. If a cat is caught, then enforcement action can be taken against the cat owner.

Cat owners may be fined as part of any cat confinement regulations if their cat is caught off their property. Officers will educate cat owners for a period of time as part of the introduction of the cat confinement.

If officers contain any cats found off their owners’ property, then the cats will either be returned to the owners or taken to the wat djerring Animal Welfare Facility.

Once reclaimed, owners may face enforcement action as above and will be required to pay reclaim fees when collecting their cat.

Our Animal Management Officers will do everything they can to reunite you with your cat by checking its registration and microchip details.

If we can't identify you, we will take your cat to the wat djerring Animal Welfare Facility. If your cat is taken to wat djerring, there will be fees to pay when you collect your cat.

These fees depend on whether the cat is registered, microchipped or desexed, and how long the cat has been in the facility.

If we cannot identify your cat or get in touch with you, the cat will be taken to the wat djerring Animal Welfare Facility.

If you know the owner of the cat, please speak with them first.

If the issue cannot be resolved and you wish to make a formal complaint, contact our Animal Management team.

Phone:  03 9217 2170

Email: Animal.Management@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Before trapping, we recommend first talking to the cat’s owner to discuss the issue. If that's not possible, or the problem persists, you may trap a cat that wanders onto your property.

Please note that the sale, setting and use of humane cat traps is regulated under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Improper use or monitoring of these traps may result in penalties. Traps that operate with hook actioning mechanisms are strictly prohibited.

Once the cat is trapped, you can either return it to its owner, contact the City of Whittlesea Animal Management Unit for pick up, or take the cat to the Epping Animal Welfare Facility. Make sure to place food and clean drinking water in the cat trap and check it regularly throughout the day to ensure any trapped cat is cared for and can be quickly collected.

While cat confinement alone won't solve the issue of semi-owned cats, it can help if these cats are causing problems and can be safely trapped.

Our Animal Management team is also tackling this challenge with other strategies. We're educating individuals who feed but don't officially own cats, and we're offering subsidised desexing programs to encourage people to take full responsibility for these cats.

These steps help us manage the situation more effectively and ensure the wellbeing of all cats in the community.

Resources are available to help your cat get used to living indoors or in an outdoor enclosure.

Here are a few easy tips to start:

• Feed your cat indoors. Instead of letting them out as soon as they're finished eating, keep them inside for longer each time.
• If you start during the winter, a warm, dry bed to snuggle can make indoors more appealing for your cat to stay inside.
• More ideas can be found on the Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife website.

Yes, your cat is allowed outdoors, as long as it stays on your property. Various forms of enclosures are available. Learn more about these on this page.

To keep your indoor cat engaged and active, consider using cat towers, providing a variety of toys, and taking your cat outside on a harness and leash.

We'll also offer additional resources with more tips and ideas on how to keep your cat entertained and healthy. These activities not only enrich your cat's life but also help maintain their wellbeing.

It can be tricky to distinguish between pet, stray, and feral cats because their behaviors can overlap. Pets might act differently based on their traits, while stray and feral cats tend to avoid people unless they've grown to trust them.

When cats are brought to a shelter, they are given time to adjust. That’s why it’s crucial for pet cats to be microchipped and registered. This helps us identify them as owned and reunite them with their owners if they get lost.

Yes, as catching an uncontained cat is incredibly difficult. If a cat is able to be contained without the use of a trap then officers will collect it, otherwise a trap will be provided, and officers will collect any cats caught in council traps.

Generally, cats will only be collected from private residences. Council officers may assist with the collection of cats on council property (parks) under supervision.

Council officers will collect any contained cats from private properties. Cats can also be taken to the Epping Animal Welfare Facility (ensuring the cat is transported in a safe way).

Contact us or check online to see if your cat has been taken to the wat djerring Animal Welfare Facility.

It's important to use only council-approved or humane traps for capturing cats. Whether you're using a trap provided by the council or purchasing your own, make sure to follow all the instructions carefully. This is crucial to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the cat during the trapping process.

Keeping your cat indoors, especially when they are active and have plenty of enrichment toys, generally has minimal impact on their mental health.

If your cat does experience increased stress from being indoors, there are products available to help. Indoor cats face fewer risks of disease and injury compared to those who spend time outdoors.

If a cat is registered, we will work to reunite it with its owner. If a cat is unowned, stray, or feral, it will be taken to the wat djerring Animal Welfare Facility. There, the cat will receive a behavioural assessment to see if it's suitable for adoption.

Yes, it is legal for someone to trap a trespassing cat.

We have a range of resources for cat owners on this page, including information from Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife.

We will provide resources for owners to find the easiest and most cost-effective way to keep their cats on their property, and this may include workshops, but at this stage, we will not be subsidising enclosures.

Several reports indicate that cats are natural predators to native wildlife, whether or not they are owned or stray/feral. Containing your cat to your property (especially at a young age) will lower its natural predation and help protect our local wildlife.

Almost half of Victorian councils have cat confinement in place, with a mix of 24 hour confinement and sunset to sunrise curfews.

The City of Darebin introduced a night-time cat curfew (from 7 pm to 7 am) on 1 Jan 2021, Yarra Ranges has a 24/7 curfew and the Knox City Council 24-hour curfew came into effect on 10 April 2022.

Yes, under state law, all cats over three months old must be registered. Registering your cat helps with their safe return if they escape your property. The fees also support the Epping Animal Welfare Facility, which cares for all cats, owned or not, that are brought in. Registering your pet is crucial for quickly reuniting you with them if they get lost.

At this stage no changes are being looked at in relation to registration fees, however we are looking at advocating to the state government for standard fees across all councils.

We are continuing to support residents to be compliant via education and resources. When fines are issued they will start from $92 - other fees or fines may apply.

If you see cats roaming in your area, contact our team at animal.management@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call us on 03 9217 2170. We will to know the address of where the cat lives.

If you don't know where the cat lives and it's causing you problems, please fill in an application form for a cat trap.

Our officers respond to community complaints about roaming cats. Our goal is to educate owners and offer advice on how to safely keep cats contained on their property. If necessary, we will take appropriate actions, which could include issuing fines or removing the cats.