The cat curfew rules for the Shire of Pyrenees.

Yes. Within the Pyrenees Shire township zones the council asks you to confine your cat at night, mainly to cut down on its hunting. The page doesn't spell out exact clock hours, so check with the council for the times that apply where you live. A fully enclosed cat run is the easy way to meet this, since it keeps your cat on your own property day and night without you having to watch the clock.

Yes. Every cat has to be registered with the council once it reaches three months of age, and registration runs on a yearly cycle that falls due on 10 April. Your cat needs to be microchipped and desexed before the council will register it. Fees are set each year and there's a lower concession rate, so check the current amounts with the council.

Yes on both. Desexing is now compulsory in Pyrenees Shire unless you're a registered cat breeder or otherwise exempt under the legislation. Your cat also has to be microchipped, and both need to be done before you can register it. If your cat isn't desexed and doesn't qualify for the general rate, you'll pay a higher registration fee.

Under the council's General Local Law 2019 there are limits on how many animals you can keep, and the number depends on your land size and its zoning. There's no single figure that fits every property. If you're near the limit or want to keep more, check with the council about whether you need a permit.

A cat run on its own doesn't need an animal permit. What can come into play is a building or planning permit, which is usually triggered by the size or height of the structure or how close it sits to a boundary. As a rough guide a small, low enclosure often sits under the threshold, but it's worth a quick check with the council's building team first, especially if your block carries a heritage or native vegetation overlay.

There can be. In Victoria a freestanding structure can usually go up without a building permit if it's small and low, but once it gets bigger or taller, or sits close to a fence, a permit may apply. Pyrenees also has overlays on some properties that add their own controls. The safest move is to run your planned size and position past the council before you build.

A cat found roaming can be picked up by the council and impounded, and you'd pay release and holding fees to get it back. If your cat isn't registered you also risk an on-the-spot fine, which the council issues under the Domestic Animals Act 1994. Keeping your cat contained on your property, in a secure enclosure, avoids the stress and the cost.

You can, but check first. If you rent, you'll need your landlord's or agent's written permission, and a freestanding or removable design is usually easier to get across the line. In a unit or apartment, an owners corporation may have its own rules about what you can attach or build. Once you've got the okay, we can tailor a cat enclosure to the space you've got.

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 Pyrenees. 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 Pyrenees 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.