The cat curfew rules for the City of Latrobe.

Yes. The City of Latrobe has a cat curfew running from 9pm to 6am, seven days a week, brought in under the Domestic Animals Act 1994. During those hours your cat has to be securely confined to your property and can't be out wandering next door or down the street. A fully enclosed cat run is a simple way to meet the curfew, because it keeps your cat safely on your own land overnight without you having to shut them indoors.

Yes. All cats aged 3 months and over must be registered with the council, and registration is renewed each year by 10 April. Fees are set by the council and can change on 1 July, and Pensioner Concession or Veterans Gold Card holders are eligible for a discount. It's worth checking the current amounts on the council's Pet Registration page before you pay.

To register a cat with the City of Latrobe it needs to be both microchipped and desexed, and you'll be asked to provide proof. There are limited exemptions, for example where a vet certifies that desexing would harm the cat's health, or the owner belongs to an applicable cat organisation. If you think an exemption might apply to you, confirm the details with the council first.

You can keep up to 2 cats at a property without any extra approval. If you want more, you'll need to apply for a Keeping of Animals permit, and in residential zones the council will consider a combined total of up to 5 cats and dogs. The exact numbers and conditions are on the council's Keeping of Animals page, so check there if you're near the limit.

You don't need an animal permit just to build a cat run for your own pets. A building permit is a separate question, and for a freestanding structure it usually only comes into play once you go over about 10 square metres of floor area or 3 metres in height. Because overlays and boundary setbacks can change that, it's best to run your plans past the council before you build.

As a general guide in Victoria, a freestanding structure can often be built without a building permit if it stays under about 10 square metres and 3 metres high, though anything close to a boundary may be held to a lower height. Planning overlays, like heritage or bushfire, can add extra rules on top of that. We keep our enclosures within the usual limits where we can, but it's worth confirming your block's setbacks with the council.

If your cat is picked up wandering, especially during the curfew hours, it can be impounded and you may face release fees or a fine to get it back. The council also offers residents cat cages to help contain stray or trespassing cats. Keeping your cat registered and microchipped makes it much easier for the council to reunite you quickly, and a secure cat enclosure is the surest way to avoid the situation altogether.

You can, but if you're renting you'll want the property owner's permission first, ideally in writing. For a freestanding cat run we can design something that comes apart or leaves the structure largely intact, which landlords tend to prefer. On a balcony or in a unit with body corporate rules, check what's allowed before you start, and we can tailor an enclosure to fit the 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 City of Latrobe. 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 Latrobe 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.