The 24/7 cat rules across the Shire of East Gippsland.

Yes. East Gippsland has a full 24-hour containment rule, which means your cat has to stay on your property at all times, day and night, not just after dark. The council has had this in place since 2002, and letting a cat roam off your premises is an offence under the Domestic Animals Act 1994. A fully enclosed cat run is one of the easiest ways to meet the rule, since it keeps your cat on the property while still giving it fresh air and room to move.

Yes. Every cat aged three months and over must be registered with the council, and registration is renewed each year with renewals falling due on 10 April. A desexed and microchipped cat pays a much lower fee than an unsterilised one, and pensioners get a concession rate. Fees are reviewed each year, so check the council's animals and pets page for the current amounts.

Your cat has to be microchipped before it can be registered, so that step is required. Desexing is not compulsory across the board, but desexed cats pay a much smaller registration fee, and the council runs a discount desexing and microchipping program for residents facing financial or health stress. If money is tight, it is worth asking the council about that program before you book the vet in.

In residential areas you can keep up to two cats, and in farming areas the limit is six. Kittens from a registered cat are not counted for their first twelve weeks. If you want to keep more than the limit you need to apply to the council for permission, and an enclosure can help make the case that the extra animals are properly contained.

The enclosure itself does not need an animal permit. What can come into play is a building permit, which is generally triggered once a structure gets past a certain size or height. As a rough guide a small, low run under about 10 square metres and 3 metres high is often exempt, but overlays such as a bushfire management overlay can change that, so it is best to check with the council or a private building surveyor first.

Building rules do cover things like overall size, height and how far a structure sits from your boundaries, and a bigger enclosure is more likely to need a permit. Parts of East Gippsland also carry overlays that add extra requirements, so setbacks and materials can matter. We design each cat run to suit the spot it is going in, and we are happy to keep it within the exempt range or help you sort a permit if one is needed. When in doubt, check with the council.

A cat found off your property can be picked up and impounded, and you may face a fine plus release and daily holding fees to get it back. Because containment applies around the clock, this can happen at any time of day, not just at night. Keeping your cat inside or in a secure enclosure avoids the stress and cost, and a cat run means your cat can be outdoors without ever straying off the property.

Yes, though if you rent you will need your landlord or agent's written permission first, and in a unit or apartment the owners corporation may need to sign off too. Freestanding runs, balcony enclosures and window boxes are all options that suit smaller or shared homes. We can build something that comes down cleanly if you move, which makes it easier to get a rental approved.

A fully enclosed catio keeps your cat safely on your property, which is exactly what containment rules ask for, while still giving them fresh air and the sounds and smells of outside. We build a range of escape-proof enclosures, from a discreet patio catio to a side run or netting over the whole backyard, so there's an option to suit your home. Build a quote to get started.

Yes, we build custom catios right across greater Melbourne, including the Shire of East Gippsland. If you're not sure you're in range, get in touch and we'll let you know.

Always confirm the current rules with the council directly via the Shire of East Gippsland website (opens in a new tab). The guide above is research we've collated to help you get started, not legal advice, see the note at the foot of this page.