Keeping cats and building catios in the Shire of West Wimmera.

No, the Shire of West Wimmera doesn't run a cat curfew or containment order, so there's no council rule requiring you to keep your cat confined day or night. That said, a cat that wanders onto a neighbour's property can be trapped and collected under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, and roaming and feral cats are a real concern out this way. A fully enclosed cat run is the easy way to keep your cat safely on your own block while it still gets fresh air and room to move. If you're ever unsure, check the current rules with the council.

Yes. The council requires cats to be microchipped and registered from three months of age, and registration is renewed every year by 10 April. You also need to tell the council if you move house or your cat passes away. If your cat is over three months old and isn't registered, you can be fined.

Microchipping is required before you register your cat with the council. Desexing isn't listed as compulsory here, but desexed cats attract a lower registration fee, and it helps cut down on roaming and unwanted litters. For the current fees and any exemptions, check with the council.

In the townships you're allowed two cats on land up to 0.4 hectare, or four cats on land larger than 0.4 hectare. If you want to keep more than that, you'll need to complete a Community Local Law permit application. It's worth checking with the council if your situation is a bit unusual.

The cat run itself doesn't need an animal permit. A building permit can come into play depending on the size, height and where the structure sits, so it's worth a quick call to the council's building services before you start. As a rough guide across Victoria, small and low structures often sit under the building-permit threshold, but confirm the numbers for your build with the council.

Any structure has to meet the usual building rules around size, height and how close it sits to your boundaries, and an overlay on your land can change what's allowed. West Wimmera doesn't publish cat-enclosure-specific dimensions, so we'd check the setback and height limits for your block with the council's building or planning team. We design our enclosures to sit comfortably within those rules once we know your site.

There's no cat curfew, but if your cat strays onto someone else's property they're allowed to trap it and hand it to the council, which also offers a cat trap service to residents. If your cat ends up impounded you'll usually pay a pound release fee to get it back, and registration makes it far easier for the council to reunite you. Keeping your cat contained on your own property avoids the whole hassle.

You can, but if you rent you'll need your landlord's written permission first, since you're building or fixing a structure on their property. We can design freestanding or easily removable enclosures that suit rentals and smaller spaces. If you're in a unit or have body corporate rules, check those as well before you commit.

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 West Wimmera. 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 West Wimmera 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.