24/7 cat containment in the Rural City of Swan Hill.

Yes. The council brought in a 24-hour cat containment order that started on 1 January 2025, which means your cat has to be kept on your property around the clock unless it's on a lead or in a secure carrier. The first six months were an education period, and fines for cats at large have applied since 1 July 2025. The council suggests cat-proof fencing, netting or rigid wire to make a fully enclosed area, or keeping your cat indoors. A fully enclosed cat run is one of the easiest ways to meet the order, because it keeps your cat safely on your property while still giving it fresh air and time outside.

Yes. Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, cats over three months of age must be registered with the council, and registration is renewed every year by 10 April. Your cat needs to be microchipped before the council can register it for the first time. You can register using the online form on the council's registration page.

Microchipping is required before a cat can be registered for the first time, so in practice every registered cat is microchipped. Desexing isn't compulsory, but desexed cats pay a lower yearly registration fee, and the council runs a subsidised desexing program with the National Desexing Network for eligible residents. Desexing also helps settle a cat and cut down roaming, which fits well with the containment order.

Under the council's Community Local Law No. 2 you can keep up to two cats without a permit, and that limit is the same in residential areas, rural living zones and farming zones. To keep more you'll need a permit for excess animals, which asks for your neighbours' signatures and a small fee that changes each year. If you keep a few cats, a well-built enclosure makes it much easier to keep them all safely contained.

The enclosure itself doesn't need an animal permit. Whether you need a building permit depends on how big and tall the structure is and how close it sits to your boundaries. As a general guide in Victoria a small, low enclosure often doesn't need a building permit, but larger or taller structures can, so it's best to check with the council's building or planning team before you start.

Height and how far the structure sits from your boundaries are the main things that can tip it into needing a building permit, and overlays on your block such as heritage or flood can add extra rules. Swan Hill doesn't publish a simple cat-enclosure rule, so the safe move is to confirm the height and boundary limits with the council before building. We design our enclosures to sit within common limits and can adjust to suit your block.

Because of the 24-hour containment order, a cat found off your property can be picked up by the council and impounded, which can mean release fees or a fine. A cat that's microchipped and registered is much quicker and cheaper to get home. The council also runs cat trapping in response to complaints, so keeping your cat contained protects it from being caught.

You can, but you'll usually need written permission from your landlord or owners corporation first, especially for anything fixed to the building. Freestanding or removable enclosures are often easier to get signed off on a rental. Either way the containment order still applies, so a secure cat run is a good way to give your cat safe outdoor time without breaking the rules.

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 Swan Hill. 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 Swan Hill 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.