The cat and catio rules for the Shire of Murrindindi.

Murrindindi doesn't currently run a shire-wide cat curfew, so there's no set night-time or 24-hour confinement order in force like some other Victorian councils have. That said, the council's new Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026-2029 has strong community backing for keeping cats contained to their own property, so the rules may tighten in the years ahead. Whatever the council lands on, a fully enclosed cat run keeps your cat safely on your property around the clock, which is exactly what any containment rule asks for. It's worth checking the council's pet pages for the latest.

Yes. Every cat over three months old has to be microchipped and registered with the council, in line with Victorian law. Registration runs for the year and is renewed by 10 April each year. Fees are set by the council, so check its pet registration page or give the office a call for the current amount.

Your cat has to be microchipped before you can register it, and that part is state law. Desexing isn't confirmed as compulsory across the shire yet, but the council has been encouraged to refuse registration of cats that aren't desexed, so it may become a firm requirement. Either way, desexed cats attract a lower registration fee, and there can be exemptions for registered breeders or on a vet's advice, so check with the council for where things stand.

The council's cat and registration pages don't publish a set limit that we could find. Across Victoria it's common for a council local law to cap how many cats you keep before you need a permit, and the number differs from council to council. If you're planning on several cats, ring the council's local laws team and confirm the figure for your property. An excess-animal permit may be available if you want to go over the standard number.

Keeping a cat run on your own land doesn't need an animal permit. What can come into play is a building or planning permit, and that depends on the size and height of the structure and where it sits on your block. As a general Victorian guide a small, freestanding enclosure under about 10 square metres and 3 metres high often won't need a building permit, but that's not a guarantee for your site, so check with the council's building team before you start. We build to sit within those limits wherever we can.

There can be. Setbacks from boundaries, height and how far forward the structure sits all feed into whether a permit is needed. Parts of the shire also carry bushfire or environmental overlays that add their own conditions, and since Murrindindi covers a lot of fire-prone bushland around places like Marysville and Kinglake, those can matter. The exact figures depend on your property, so we recommend confirming them with the council's planning and building staff, and we design each enclosure to fit comfortably within your setbacks and height limits.

A roaming cat can be picked up by a council officer and taken to the pound, and you may have to pay release or impound fees to get it back. Cats also aren't allowed to trespass on other people's property under the Domestic Animals Act 1994. Keeping your cat registered and microchipped makes it far quicker to reunite you if it does go missing, and a secure cat enclosure is the surest way to stop it wandering off in the first place.

Yes. If you rent, get your landlord's okay first, and we can build freestanding or removable enclosures that don't permanently alter the property. If you're in a unit or apartment, a window or balcony enclosure often works well, though you should check with your body corporate or owners corporation before building. If any building or planning permit is involved, the owner's consent generally needs to be part of the application, so square that away early and check with the council if you're unsure.

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 Murrindindi. 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 Murrindindi 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.