The cat curfew rules for the Rural City of Horsham.

Yes. Horsham has a cat curfew order, first adopted in 1995, that requires you to keep your cat contained to your property from sunset to sunrise. It's about keeping your cat within your property boundary, not necessarily inside the house, and cats that wander during the day can still be trapped if a neighbour objects. Residents can borrow a cat trap from the council to set overnight, and the council collects any cat that's caught. A fully enclosed cat run is the easy way to meet the curfew, because it keeps your cat safely on your property day and night.

Yes. Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, cats over three months old must be registered with the council. Registration renews each year, with fees due by 10 April, so you top it up annually to keep your cat registered. You can sign up using the council's new animal registration form or by contacting the council.

Your cat must be microchipped before you can register it. Desexing is not compulsory for every cat, but desexed cats pay a lower registration fee, and pension card holders get 50% off. Horsham has also run subsidised cat desexing programs from time to time, so it is worth checking the current offers and fees with the council.

In the urban area you can keep up to 2 cats. Outside the urban area (but not on farm land) the limit is 3, and on farm land it's 5. If you want more than that, you apply to the council for an excess animal permit. Each cat still needs to be registered and microchipped.

You do not need an animal permit just to build a cat enclosure. A building permit can be triggered by the size and height of the structure or where it sits on your block. As a rough guide across Victoria, a small freestanding structure under about 10 square metres and no more than 3 metres high often does not need a building permit, but overlays and boundary setbacks can change that, so confirm with the council's building and planning team for your address.

There can be. Setbacks from your boundaries, overall height, and any planning overlay on your property, such as heritage or environmental, can all affect what you can build and whether a permit is needed. We build to stay within the common exemptions where we can, but it is worth a quick check with the council for your specific block before we start.

If your cat is out during the curfew or roaming the neighbourhood, it can be trapped or impounded by council, and you may need to pay release and impound fees to get it back. Repeat wandering can also lead to a fine. A registered, microchipped cat is much easier to reunite with you, and a cat run keeps it from wandering in the first place.

You can, but get your landlord's or owners corporation's written permission first, since you are making a change to the property. We can design freestanding or removable enclosures that suit rentals and smaller spaces without permanent alterations. The same council building and planning rules apply, so check anything that might need a permit before you go ahead.

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 Rural City of Horsham. 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 Rural City of Horsham 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.