Council has adopted a new Domestic Animal Management Plan 2025-2029, including a cat curfew that will come into effect from 1 April 2027.

The Domestic Animal Management Plan sets out how Council manages cats and dogs in our neighbourhoods. It includes actions that promote responsible pet ownership, support the welfare of cats and dogs and aim to reduce nuisance behaviours.

Cat curfews aim to improve a cat’s health and lifespan and reduce negative effects on wildlife and the environment. Curfews can also help address issues such as cat noise, cats digging in gardens and trespass.

Cat curfews have been introduced in more than half of the 79 councils in Victoria, with 24-hour cat curfews in 10 of those councils. The ACT Government has also successfully introduced a 24-hour cat curfew for all cats born after 1 July 2022, with a grandfather clause for older cats.

What does the cat curfew mean for me?

Council’s cat curfew will come into effect from 1 April 2027.

The cat curfew will be applied in two ways to help cats and cat owners transition to this method of cat containment.

• An overnight cat curfew (from 7pm to 7am) will apply to all cats that are registered before 1 April 2027. This means that any cat already registered with Council or that is registered with Council before 1 April 2027, from 1 April 2027 will need to be confined within the boundaries of their owner’s property between 7pm and 7am every night.

• All cats that are registered after 1 April 2027 will need to be confined to within the boundaries of their owner’s property for 24 hours a day.

What does ‘containment’ mean?

During the curfew hours relevant to your cat, you will need to keep your cat within the boundaries of your property. This could be inside the home, within an enclosed outdoor space like a ‘catio’ or just within your fences. Cats may leave properties for a walk on a leash, in a carrier or pet stroller.

Council will also run an education campaign to support cat owners through the transition to the curfew.