The full-time cat rules for the Shire of Wellington.

Yes. Wellington has a 24-hour cat curfew that covers the whole shire, in place since early 2023, so your cat has to be confined to your property around the clock. The council says you can meet this by keeping your cat inside or by putting in an outdoor cat enclosure, and a cat can only leave the property on a leash or otherwise securely held. A fully enclosed cat run is the easy way to give your cat fresh air and outdoor time while keeping it on your land and on the right side of the curfew.

Yes. Any cat living in Wellington Shire must be registered with the council from 3 months of age. Registration runs from 10 April each year and needs to be renewed annually, and the council sends a renewal notice before that date. You get a lifetime registration tag, so you pay the yearly renewal fee rather than getting a new tag each time.

Your cat must be microchipped before it can be registered, which applies from 3 months of age under Victorian law. Desexing is not compulsory, but desexed cats attract a lower registration fee once you give the council proof it's been done. Holders of an eligible concession card also pay a reduced rate, so it's worth checking the current fees with the council.

It depends on how your land is zoned. In general residential and most town zones you can keep up to two cats, rising to around four on rural living and farming land, while a multi-dwelling or flat lot is usually limited to one. A litter from a lawfully kept cat is exempt for its first 12 weeks, and if you want to keep more than the limit you'll need to apply to the council for a permit.

The cat enclosure itself doesn't need an animal permit from the council. What can be triggered is a building permit, and that comes down to the size and height of the structure rather than the fact it's for a cat. As a general Victorian guide a freestanding, lightweight enclosure under about 10 square metres and no more than 3 metres high usually doesn't need a building permit, but it's always worth a quick check with the council before you start.

Yes, and they come from the Victorian building rules rather than anything cat-specific. A small, freestanding, lightweight run under about 10 square metres and up to 3 metres high generally sits under the building permit threshold, but if any part is within a metre of a side or rear boundary the roof usually can't be higher than about 2.4 metres. Overlays like bushfire, heritage or flooding can change what's allowed on your block, so check with the council if you're building close to a boundary or under an overlay.

Because of the 24-hour curfew, a cat found off its property is breaching the rules and the council works through a set of steps. The first time it's usually returned to its registered owner where possible, the second time it's returned with a warning, and on a third occasion it can be impounded and an infringement issued. Fines start at $192 for a first offence and rise to $577 for repeat breaches, so keeping your cat contained in a secure enclosure saves you both the fine and the stress of it going missing.

You can, though renters should get the property owner's written permission first, and a small freestanding run generally sits under the building permit threshold anyway. If you're in a unit or apartment, check your body corporate or owners corporation rules, and remember a multi-dwelling or flat lot is usually limited to one cat. A balcony or courtyard enclosure is a good fit for smaller places, and the curfew still applies, so it needs to keep your cat fully contained. If you're unsure about permits for your situation, check with the council.

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 Wellington. 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 Wellington 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.