Cat ownership and catios in the City of Hobsons Bay.

Hobsons Bay does not have a cat curfew or a confinement order, so there's no set time your cat must be kept indoors or on your property. The council manages roaming and nuisance cats mainly through trapping rather than a curfew, and it still encourages owners to keep their cats safe at home. A fully enclosed cat run is the easiest way to do that, since it keeps your cat on your property day and night without you having to watch the clock. If you want certainty on the current rule, check the council's Pets and animals pages.

Yes. Every cat over three months old must be registered with the council, and registration is renewed each year, with renewals due on 10 April. Owners who don't register can cop an on-the-spot fine for each unregistered animal. You can register or renew through the council's Pet registration page or the My Hobsons Bay online hub.

Your cat has to be microchipped before you can register it with the council. Desexing isn't forced on every cat, but desexed cats pay a lower registration fee, so most owners choose it. Concession-card holders eligible under the State Concession Act get a further discount on the fee. The council also runs mobile cat desexing days from time to time to help with the cost.

Under the council's Community Local Law there's a limit on how many cats you can keep before you need an excess-animal permit, and it's commonly two per household. If you want to keep more than that, you apply to the council for a permit. Because the exact figure sits in the local law, it's worth confirming the current number with the council before you plan for more cats. A cat enclosure comfortably houses the cats you're allowed while keeping them contained.

There's no specific animal permit for building a cat run in Hobsons Bay. What can apply is a building or planning permit, and that depends on the size and height of the structure, how close it sits to a boundary, and whether your property is covered by a planning overlay, which is common around Williamstown's heritage streets. Many small, low garden enclosures fall under the building-permit exemption for minor structures, but larger or taller ones may not. It's best to check with the council's building and planning team before you start.

Yes, the usual building and planning rules can come into play once an enclosure gets bigger or taller, or sits close to a fence line. Victoria's building rules exempt many small, low structures from a building permit, but larger or higher ones, or anything in a heritage or other overlay, can need approval. We design our enclosures to sit sensibly within those limits, and we're happy to help you check where your build lands. If in doubt, the council can tell you exactly what applies to your block.

Because there's no curfew, a cat isn't breaking a rule simply by being outside, but a cat that's trespassing or causing a nuisance can be trapped. Residents can borrow a cat cage from the council to catch stray or nuisance cats, and trapped cats are taken to the council's shelter. If your cat is registered and microchipped, the council can identify you and get it home quickly, which is a good reason to keep those details current. A cat enclosure avoids the whole problem by keeping your cat on your property.

You can, but you'll usually need your landlord's or owners corporation's permission first, since it means adding a structure. In Victoria renters can ask the owner for consent to modifications, and a freestanding or lightweight enclosure is often easier to approve because it can be removed later. For apartments and townhouses, a balcony or courtyard enclosure is a popular way to give a cat safe outdoor time. We can design something that suits a rental or a small space and still meets any council requirements.

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 City of Hobsons Bay. 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 City of Hobsons Bay 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.