Cat owners in Hepburn Shire must keep their cats securely confined within their property between sunset and sunrise from 1 July 2023.

The cat curfew is a key action in the council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP), which aims to reduce the chance of cats breeding, fighting, becoming injured or killing wildlife.

“When we asked our community about the priorities for the DAMP, 90 percent of survey respondents supported the introduction of a cat curfew,” said Cr Hood, Mayor of Hepburn Shire Council.

“We know our community loves and cares for their pets. The curfew will help to reduce the risks associated with allowing cats to roam outdoors at night,” he said.

The RSPCA and Cat Protection Society of Victoria are both supportive of curfews. Many Victorian councils have already introduced cat curfews.

To report a breach of the cat curfew, shire residents can call the council on (03) 5348 2306 or report it via the council’s website with a description of the cat and any information on the pet’s known address. A Community Safety Officer will investigate and communicate with the cat owner.

“Our focus is on education for cat owners and of course, where appropriate, staff will take further action consistent with our Cat Management Policy, which may include issuing an Official Warning, a Notice of Objection or a Notice to Comply. Where pet owners repeatedly do not comply with the curfew, it may be appropriate to escalate to an Infringement Notice,” said Cr Hood.

“We also strongly encourage cat owners to make sure their pets are registered with Council.”

All cats over three months of age must be microchipped and registered. The first period of registration is free for microchipped and desexed pets in Hepburn Shire. Registration is due for renewal in April each year.

“Registering your pet is part of being a responsible pet owner. It will help you be reunited with your furry friend should it go missing,” said Cr Hood.

“Ensuring cats are registered and contained within an owner’s property at all times is also a requirement under the Domestic Animal Act.

Hepburn Shire Council is bringing in a dusk to dawn cat curfew enforceable from 1 July 2023. From that date cats must be securely confined to the owner’s property between sunset and sunrise.

The fine for a first infringement will be $184.92 with that amount tripled for subsequent offences. If a cat is found wandering during curfew hours and it is not registered, owners will be required to register it before it is released.

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said a cat curfew is a key action in Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan, which was informed by community feedback. Cr Hood said community consultation had shown strong support for the curfew.
“Throughout the community consultation there was strong support for a cat curfew, with 90% of
the 450 respondents in support of a curfew,” said Cr Hood.
“We know our community loves their pets. The curfew will help to reduce the risks associated
with allowing cats to roam outdoors between dusk and dawn. Keeping cats indoors at night will
reduce the chance of them breeding, fighting, becoming injured or killing wildlife.”
“Organisations including the RSPCA and the Cat Protection Society of Victoria are supportive of
curfews and many Victorian councils have already introduced these types of curfew measures,”
he said.
From 1 July 2023 enforcement activities will commence, in line with the process already applied
to wandering dogs. This will include: Education for cat owners of their responsible pet ownership requirements, Issuing Warnings and Notices to Comply where appropriate, Issuing Infringement Notices to offenders where appropriate. The infringement amount will be 1 Penalty Unit for first offence and 3 Penalty Units for second or subsequent offences. A penalty unit is currently $184.92.

“Ensuring cats are registered with Council and contained within an owner’s property at all times
is not just responsible, but a requirement under the Domestic Animal Act,” Cr Hood said.

“The dusk until dawn curfew is a good further step as we move towards the 24-hour containment of cats by 2025.