The full-time cat rules for the City of Manningham.

Yes. Manningham has a 24-hour Cat Confinement Order that started on 1 April 2024, so your cat has to stay within your property boundary at all times, day and night. It is not a night-only curfew, it applies around the clock and is backed by the RSPCA. A fully enclosed cat run is an easy way to give your cat fresh air and sunshine while keeping it safely on the property.

Yes. Under Victorian law every cat over three months of age must be registered with the council, and registration renews each year by 10 April. Your cat also has to be microchipped before you can register it. You can sort this out through the council's Register your pet page or by contacting Manningham directly.

Microchipping is required before you can register your cat in Manningham. Desexing is not compulsory here, but desexed cats pay a much lower registration fee (around $45 versus $183 for an undesexed cat in 2026-27), so most owners do it. Desexing also helps cut down roaming and territorial behaviour.

On a residential block you can keep up to two cats without a permit, whatever the size of your land. If you want more than two, you need to apply for an additional animal permit, which has a $160 application fee and is assessed case by case. All cats over three months still need to be microchipped and registered.

You do not need an animal permit just to build a cat enclosure. A building permit is often not required for a small, freestanding cat run, which in Victoria generally means under about 10 square metres and no more than 3 metres high, though it depends on your setbacks and block. It is worth a quick check with the council or a private building surveyor before you start.

Under the Victorian Building Regulations a small outbuilding is usually exempt from a building permit if it stays under about 10 square metres and 3 metres high and sits far enough from the boundary. Build closer to a fence and the allowed height drops, and heritage or bushfire overlays can add extra rules. We design cat enclosures to fit within these limits, but always confirm the specific setbacks for your property with Manningham.

Manningham's Local Laws officers act on reports from the community about roaming cats, and their focus is on educating owners and helping them contain their cats rather than jumping straight to fines. If your cat is registered and microchipped, officers can get it home to you quickly if it is picked up. A secure cat enclosure is the simplest way to make sure your cat never ends up wandering in the first place.

If you rent, you will need your landlord's okay before building anything fixed, so freestanding or removable designs are usually the easiest to get across the line. For apartments or units, check your owners corporation rules first, as they often have a say over balconies and shared walls. We can build cat enclosures to suit courtyards, balconies and small spaces without permanent changes.

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 City of Manningham. 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 City of Manningham 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.