Keeping your cat confined to your property
To help protect our local wildlife and keep cats safe, Council has introduced 24/7 cat confinement rules.
Pet owners must keep cats on their property at all times – unless they’re securely confined (for example, in a cat carrier, on a leash or other reasonable means of constraint).
There's time for pet owners and their cats to adjust. We know this is a big change for some households and their cats. We're in a transition period until October 2027 that's all about providing education and guidance to the community. Over coming months, we'll be working with cat owners to support a smooth and practical transition to keeping cats at home.
Benefits of cat confinement
This video explains the benefits of keeping cats at home.
It protects local wildlife
Even well-fed cats can hunt wildlife.
On average, one roaming pet cat kills 186 reptiles, birds and mammals every year, most of them native to Australia.
In our Green Wedge Shire, cat confinement is vital to looking after vulnerable wildlife.
Did you know? Nillumbik supports a high proportion of threatened animal species, with approximately 60 species listed as threatened in Victoria and 17 listed as threatened in Australia.
It’s safer for cats
Pet cats that roam the neighbourhood may have shorter lives than cats that are kept at home.
Surveys show that two out of three cat owners have permanently lost a cat due to roaming incidents.
Roaming pet cats are at significant risk of:
- getting injured in fights with other cats
- catching fatal diseases, such as feline AIDS from other cats
- being hit or run over by cars
- being attacked by a dog or bitten by a snake
- getting lost.
Keeping cats happy at home
We know that this is a change for some pet owners and their cats.
However, cats don’t need to roam to thrive.
Cats can still enjoy outdoor time, as long as they stay within the boundaries of the owner’s property.
Safe outdoor play can be enabled with enclosures or escape-proof fencing. There are many cost-effective and DIY options.
Ideas to turn your home into a cat haven.
Resources
For more information and tips on how to create a stimulating environment and help roaming cats adjust, head to:
About the change
The cat confinement order started on 30 September 2025. It is part of Council's Domestic Animal Management Plan 2025-2029(PDF, 5MB), which was adopted by Council following extensive community consultation.
The Plan outlines how Council manages animals within the Shire, acknowledging the significant value of pet ownership, promoting the welfare of pets, safety of the community and protection of our environment.