The 24/7 cat rules across the Shire of Hindmarsh.

Yes. Hindmarsh has a shire-wide cat confinement order made under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, and since 1 May 2024 cats are not allowed to roam off their owner's property at any time of day or night. Your cat can still enjoy the outdoors, it just has to do it within your boundary. A fully enclosed cat run is a tidy way to meet the rule, because it keeps your cat safely on the property while still letting it sit in the garden and get some fresh air.

Yes. Any cat over three months old must be registered with the council, and registration is renewed every year, with renewals due on 10 April. Your cat needs to be microchipped before you can register it. New registrations, changes of address and lost tags all go through the council.

A microchip is required before the council will register your cat. Desexing is now mandatory for cats being registered for the first time, and desexed cats attract a much lower registration fee than entire ones. The council has also run a discounted desexing program with local clinics, so it is worth asking what support is available.

In a residential or township zone you can keep up to two cats over three months of age without needing a permit. If you want to keep more, you have to apply to the council for an excess animal permit, which checks the animals can be kept in a clean, safe and neighbour-friendly setup. Fees and exact conditions are set by the council, so confirm the current details with them.

The cat enclosure itself is not something you register as an animal permit. A building permit is a separate question and depends on the size and height of what you put up, plus where it sits on the block. Small, low structures are often exempt, but it is always worth a quick call to the council to confirm before you build.

As a general Victorian guide, a freestanding structure under about 10 square metres in floor area and under 3 metres high often does not need a building permit, but setbacks, easements and any planning overlays can change that. On rural or heritage-affected land the rules can be stricter. We design each cat run to suit your yard, and we suggest confirming the setback and height details with the council's building surveyor for your address.

With the confinement order in place, a cat found off its owner's property can be picked up and impounded, and you may have to pay release and impound fees to get it back. A registered, microchipped cat is far quicker and cheaper to reunite with its owner. Keeping your cat contained at home is the simplest way to avoid the stress and the fees altogether.

Yes, though if you rent you will need your landlord or property manager's permission first, and freestanding or modular designs are handy because they can often come with you when you move. In a unit or apartment a window or balcony enclosure can still give your cat safe access to the outside. Either way, a good cat run helps you meet Hindmarsh's confinement rule without your cat missing out.

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 Hindmarsh. 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 Hindmarsh 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.