24/7 cat containment in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula.

Yes. The shire has run a 24-hour cat curfew since 1997, which means your cat has to be kept on your property at all times, day and night. You can meet it by keeping your cat indoors or in a cat-proof outdoor enclosure. A fully enclosed cat run is a tidy way to tick that box, because it keeps your cat on the property and out of harm's way while still giving it fresh air and a bit of sun.

Yes. Cats over three months old must be registered with the council, and registration is renewed every year by 10 April. Your cat needs to be microchipped before you can register it. Fees are set each year and desexed cats and concession holders usually pay less, so check the current amount with the council.

A microchip is required before you can register your cat. The shire also has an order in place requiring registered cats to be desexed, with only limited exemptions, for example a cat registered with an approved breeding or applicable organisation. If you're not sure whether an exemption applies to you, check with the council.

The number of animals you can keep is tied to your property size under the shire's local law, and you need a local law permit to keep more than the set limit. The exact figure for cats depends on your block, so check with the council before you take on extra cats. Keeping more than allowed without a permit can lead to a fine.

The enclosure itself doesn't need an animal permit. Whether you need a building permit comes down to size and construction. As a general guide in Victoria, a freestanding lightweight structure up to about 10 square metres and no more than 3 metres high usually doesn't need one. On the Peninsula plenty of blocks also sit under planning overlays such as bushfire, vegetation, environmental or coastal, which can trigger a planning permit, so it's worth a quick check with the council before you build.

Yes. Victorian building rules generally keep a permit-free outbuilding under about 3 metres high, and if any part sits within a metre of a boundary the roof has to stay lower again, around 2.4 metres. Setbacks and overlays can also affect where you place it. We build to fit these rules and can adjust the height, footprint and position to suit your block, and if in doubt we'll help you confirm the specifics with the council.

Because of the 24-hour curfew, a cat off its property can be picked up by the shire and impounded, and you'd usually pay a release fee to get it back. Owners can also be fined for letting a cat wander, with higher penalties for repeat offences. A secure enclosure keeps your cat on the property and saves you the worry and the cost.

You can, but check first. If you rent, you'll need your landlord's or agent's permission before you fix anything to the property, and an apartment or unit may have owners corporation rules to clear. Freestanding or window-mounted enclosures are often a good fit for these situations, and we can design something that comes away cleanly if you move. The curfew applies wherever you live, so some form of containment is worth having either way.

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 Mornington Peninsula. 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 Mornington Peninsula 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.