Cat containment rules for the Shire of Indigo.

Yes. From 1 May 2024 the Shire of Indigo has a 24-hour cat curfew, made under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, so your cat must stay inside your property boundary at all times rather than roaming the neighbourhood. Your cat can still enjoy the outdoors on your own land, in the yard or in a suitable enclosure. A fully enclosed cat run is one of the simplest ways to meet the curfew, because it keeps your cat safely on the property day and night while still giving it fresh air and sunshine.

Yes. Any cat over three months of age has to be registered with Indigo Shire, and registration is renewed every year with fees due by 10 April. Desexed cats and concession card holders pay a lower fee, and the amounts are set by the council each year, so check the current fees on the council's registration page. Your cat is issued a tag once it's registered.

A cat must be microchipped before it can be registered. Desexing is now a condition of first-time registration in Indigo Shire, so a kitten registered and microchipped at around three months of age also needs to be desexed, and the council gives a discount on registration for a desexed cat. Limited exemptions apply, such as cats kept by a registered breeder or a cat a vet has certified as not yet safe to desex. Check with the council if you think an exemption applies to you.

The council's cat pages don't publish a set limit on the number of cats you can keep at one property. Councils often cap the number in a local law and may require a permit above that, so it's worth checking directly with Indigo Shire before you take on several cats. Every cat over three months still needs to be registered and desexed regardless of how many you keep.

Building a cat run to keep your cat contained doesn't need an animal permit from the council. A modest, freestanding enclosure usually sits under the building permit thresholds, but a larger or taller structure, or one fixed to the house, can trigger a building or planning permit. It's best to confirm with Indigo Shire's building and planning team before you start on anything sizeable, and we're happy to help you work through it.

As a general Victorian guide a small, low garden structure often doesn't need a building permit, but once it gets larger or taller, or sits close to a boundary, permit and setback rules can come into play, and overlays such as heritage can add conditions in townships like Beechworth. Indigo Shire sets and applies these rules, so the exact height and boundary limits should be confirmed with the council for your block. We design each enclosure to suit your property and to keep it on the right side of those thresholds wherever we can.

Under the curfew a cat found off your property can be picked up and impounded, with Indigo Shire using the Albury Animal Care Centre as its pound. You may face a fine for breaching the confinement rules, plus pound and reclaim fees to get your cat back, and those are lower when your cat is registered, microchipped and desexed. Keeping your cat contained in a secure enclosure avoids the whole situation and keeps your cat safe from cars, dogs and getting lost.

Yes, though you'll want the right sign-off first. If you rent, get your landlord's or agent's written permission, and we can build a freestanding or removable enclosure that doesn't permanently alter the place. In an apartment or unit with shared walls or common property you may also need body corporate approval. The council's cat curfew still applies wherever you live, so a catio is a great way for renters and apartment dwellers to give a cat safe outdoor time while staying compliant.

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 Indigo. 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 Indigo 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.