The cat and catio rules for the Shire of Gannawarra.

Gannawarra Shire does not have a set cat curfew or a 24/7 confinement law, so there are no fixed hours your cat must be kept in. Instead the council backs the Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife message, which encourages owners to keep cats safe and enriched at home rather than roaming. Cats are also banned from some designated public areas such as parks and swimming pools under the council's designated areas policy. A fully enclosed cat run is the simplest way to keep your cat on your own property day and night while still giving it fresh air.

Yes. Under the Victorian Domestic Animals Act 1994, all cats aged three months and over must be registered with Gannawarra Shire Council. Registration runs yearly and is renewed each year, with Victorian registrations falling due 10 April, and the council posts renewal notices as a reminder. Your cat also has to wear its registration tag whenever it is outside your property.

Your cat must be microchipped before it can be registered with the council for the first time. Desexing is not forced on every owner in Gannawarra, but it is strongly encouraged and desexed cats pay a lower registration fee, with concession card holders paying less again. You'll need a vet's sterilisation certificate as proof to get the reduced fee, and fees are set each year, so check the council's pet registration page for the current amounts.

The Community Amenity Local Law 2023 sets a limit on how many cats and dogs you can keep at one property before you need a permit. If you want to keep more than the set number, you have to apply to the council for a permit to keep animals. We would rather not quote a figure that can change, so check the council's Keeping Animals on your Property page or give them a call to confirm the current limit.

The cat run itself does not need an animal permit from the council. What can apply is a building or planning permit, and whether one is triggered comes down to the size and height of the structure, how close it sits to a boundary, and any overlays on your block. As a general Victorian guide, a small freestanding structure under about 10 square metres and no more than 3 metres high is often exempt, but it is worth a quick check with the council's building team before you start.

Yes, the usual building rules can apply. Overall height and the setback from your boundaries are what tend to tip a structure into needing a permit. Keeping the footprint and height modest usually keeps things simple, and we build most cat enclosures to sit comfortably inside those limits. If your block carries a planning overlay it is worth confirming the specifics with Gannawarra Shire before you build.

A wandering cat can be picked up and taken to the council pound. Current registration and up-to-date microchip contact details are what let the council reunite you with your cat quickly, so keeping those details current matters. You may have to pay release or impound fees to get your cat back, and cats that go unclaimed can be rehomed. A secure enclosure is the simplest way to make sure your cat never ends up there.

Yes, and it is one of the best ways renters keep a cat safely contained. If you rent, get your landlord's written okay first and choose a freestanding or removable design that doesn't damage the property. In a unit or apartment a body corporate or owners corporation may have its own rules, so check those too. We can design something that suits a rental or a smaller space.

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 Gannawarra. 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 Gannawarra 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.