The cat and catio rules for the Rural City of Wangaratta.

Not a dedicated one yet. There's no set cat curfew or 24-hour containment order in the Rural City of Wangaratta at the moment, though the council's Domestic Animal Management Plan 2025-2029 flags a cat containment policy it plans to develop and roll out over the next couple of years. What already applies is the local law: your pets should be kept on your property and not allowed to wander, and your land needs to be adequately fenced. A fully enclosed cat run is the easy way to meet that, because it keeps your cat safely on your own block day and night.

Yes. Every cat over three months old must be microchipped and registered with the council, which is a Victorian state requirement. Registration is renewed each year by 10 April, and your cat also needs to wear its council tag so a lost cat can be matched back to you. A desexed cat is cheaper to register than an entire one, and pension card holders can get a 50 percent discount, so it's worth checking the current fees with the council.

Microchipping is a must. Your cat has to be microchipped before you can register it, in line with Victorian law. Desexing isn't compulsory in Wangaratta right now, but a desexed cat pays a lower registration fee and the council is looking at bringing in a mandatory desexing policy down the track. Desexing your cat is a good idea regardless, as it cuts down roaming and unwanted litters.

You can keep up to two cats on a property without needing a permit. If you'd like more than two, you have to apply to the council for an excess animals permit, and the same two-cat limit applies whether you're on a small block, a unit or a larger property. It's worth sorting the permit before you take on extra cats rather than after. Check the current permit fee with the council when you apply.

The cat enclosure itself doesn't need an animal permit from the council. What can come into play is a building permit, which depends on the size, height and where the structure sits on your block. Small, low enclosures often sit under the threshold, but bigger or taller ones can tip over into needing one. Before you build, it's worth a quick call to the council's building and planning team to confirm what your particular plan needs.

There can be. Under Victorian building rules, a small freestanding structure that's low enough and under a modest floor area is often exempt from a building permit, with a common guide being roughly 10 square metres and around 3 metres high, but that isn't a hard promise for every site. Setbacks from your boundaries, and any planning overlays on your land, can also affect what you're allowed to put up. The safe move is to keep the run well within your boundary and check the specifics with the council before you start.

If your cat is picked up by a council ranger it's taken to the pound, and if you're not tracked down within 24 hours it's transferred to the Albury Animal Care Centre. Getting your cat back means paying a release fee, so a wandering cat can cost you money as well as worry. This is exactly where registration and a microchip pay off, because they help the council reunite you quickly. Keeping your cat in a secure enclosure avoids the whole situation, and if stray or feral cats are bothering your place the council also lends out cat traps for free.

Usually yes, though you'll want the right permissions first. If you rent, get your landlord or agent's written okay before building anything fixed, and in a unit or apartment you'll likely need the owners corporation's sign-off too. The council's cat rules still apply whatever your setup, including registration and the two-cat limit. A freestanding or window-mounted cat run is a great fit for renters and apartments, since it keeps your cat safely on the property and can often be built so it's easy to take with you when you move.

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 Wangaratta. 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 Wangaratta 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.