From 1 January 2026 a cat living in Wyndham must stay inside the property boundary at every hour, not just between 10pm and 6am. The 24-hour order came with the council's Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026–2029, but infringements only begin in December 2026. The current penalties: $102 for a roaming registered cat, $407 for failing to register one.
Wyndham's timetable, month by month
The order and its enforcement are two different dates, which is where owners get caught. The old 10pm–6am curfew was enforced the entire time.
| Period | Council action | Fine exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar 2026 | Education campaign, letters to registered owners | 10pm–6am curfew only |
| Apr–Aug 2026 | Caution only for the extended hours | 10pm–6am curfew only |
| Sep–Nov 2026 | Final warnings, repeat breaches recorded | 10pm–6am curfew only |
| Dec 2026 onward | Infringements at any hour | Full 24-hour order |
Victoria is not one rulebook
The state's Cat Management Strategy counted 44 of 79 councils with a cat curfew by the end of 2024, with 12 more considering one. The rules sit on a spectrum. City of Melbourne confines cats from 6pm to 8am, in force since 1 October 2025. Maribyrnong runs 7pm to 7am from 1 July 2026. Mount Alexander went 24-hour in April 2026 and began fining on 21 October 2026. Merri-bek, from 1 April 2027, keeps cats registered before that date on a night curfew and puts newly registered cats on 24-hour containment.
The same cat can be compliant at 6pm in one postcode and an infringement in the next, so check the destination council's order before moving.
What "contained" actually means
Containment is measured at the property boundary, not the front door. A cat does not have to live entirely indoors. Wyndham accepts three setups: the house itself, a suitable enclosure or catio, and a yard the cat cannot leave. A harness and lead under effective control is allowed, and so is a carrier. What fails is a cat flap onto the street or a 1.5 m fence with a gap under the gate. "She never leaves the yard" describes intent, not a barrier.
The penalties, line by line
Two offences apply and they stack: containment and registration. A cat that never goes outside still has to be registered past three months of age.
| Offence | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cat at large or not securely confined in a restrictive district | $102 | Per infringement, repeats recorded |
| Failure to apply for or renew registration | $407 | Greater Geelong lists $418 from 1 July 2026 |
| Renewal | By 10 April yearly | Microchip and desexing proof required |
Amounts track the state penalty unit and are re-set each financial year, which is why neighbours publish different figures. An officer can also impound a roaming cat: release costs a fee, and an unregistered cat may not be released until it is registered.
The 2-metre rule and four other measurements
Agriculture Victoria publishes the specs that decide whether a modified fence holds. Most failures are height, not materials.
- At least 2 m total height, including netting, because some cats clear 1.8 m from standing.
- Netting openings around 50 mm, floppy rather than rigid, so nothing catches and nothing can be climbed.
- An angled arm of about 0.7 m at 35 degrees or more, leaning in over your own yard.
- Supports every 2.8 m at most, netting fixed to the top wire and stapled along the fence.
- Tree collars 600 mm wide, 2 m off the ground, on any trunk near the boundary.
Extensions are generally allowed if they sit entirely on your side, not above the fence line, and some properties carry covenants capping height, so check before buying.
What a barrier costs
Retail prices from Australian suppliers in 2026. Not the cheapest possible figure: the cheap version is usually a 1.2 m barrier a determined cat treats as a step.
| Option | AUD | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Balcony or courtyard netting kit | From $798 | Units with a boundary wall |
| DIY catio kit | $350–$1,100 | Renters; large builds exceed $1,500 |
| Roller kit, 10 m | $393 | One side boundary |
| Roller kit, 20 m | $726 | Typical block, two sides |
| Roller kit, 40 m | $1,363 (about $34/m) | Corner block, full perimeter |
| Backyard enclosure, installed | $2,122–$2,703 | Large yards, multi-cat homes |
A 40 m perimeter at $1,363 is about thirteen times one $102 fine. That comparison misses the point: the relevant one is fence versus car strike, fight abscess or a lost-cat search, and repeat infringements are recorded.
The first six weeks, from the cat's side
Behaviour is where containment plans come apart, usually in week two. A cat that roamed for years tests the boundary hard, and loudly.
- Week 1: walk the boundary, list every gap, gate and overhanging branch. Measure before shopping.
- Weeks 1–2: move feeding, play and sleeping into the new area so it carries the good events.
- Weeks 2–3: door-dashing and night calling peak. Two 10-minute play sessions before bed beat any repellent.
- Weeks 3–6: add height, a window cat tree and a scratching post at the boundary.
- Ongoing: one more litter tray than cats; harness sessions two or three times a week.
For a cat used to free roaming, a four-week harness ladder is the least disruptive route out of the house; the steps are in harness training and leash walking. Indoor enrichment is the other half, and a 25 m2 flat can meet the numbers if vertical space is used (indoor enrichment, indoor cat in a small flat).
What to do this month
Register the cat if it is not on the books, measure the boundary, choose between rollers, netting and an enclosure, and check the fence-height covenant before buying. RSPCA's position, quoted in Wyndham's own material, is that containment can add up to 10 years to a cat's life by removing cars, fights and disease; lifespan runs 13 to 17 years indoors against 5 to 7 for cats that roam (cat lifespan).
Tenants need written permission before fixing anything to a wall or balcony rail, and a neighbour's roaming cat is a council matter: ask for a trap rather than feeding or relocating it, because a trapped cat enters the pound system where the hold period decides its fate (stray hold periods). Confirm the microchip is on a registry the council can read, since implant and registration are separate steps (microchip registration, microchip cost).
General information, not legal advice. Orders and infringement amounts change each financial year; confirm the current rule with your own council.
Terms mentioned in this article
Frequently asked
Does a 24-hour containment order mean my cat can never go outside?
No. The order controls where the cat can be, not whether it sees daylight. A yard fenced to 2 m with no escape route, an enclosure or catio, a harness and lead under effective control, and a carrier are all compliant. Crossing the boundary unsupervised is what is not.
My cat is registered but slipped out during the transition. Am I fined?
In Wyndham, breaches of the extended hours get cautions from April to August 2026 and final warnings from September to November 2026, with repeat breaches recorded. Infringements under the 24-hour order start in December 2026 at $102 for a roaming registered cat. The older 10pm-6am curfew has been enforceable throughout.
Is registration separate from containment?
Yes, and both carry penalties. Every cat over three months old must be microchipped and registered with its council, renewed by 10 April each year. Failure to register or renew is $407 in most councils, and Greater Geelong listed $418 from 1 July 2026 because the amount tracks the state penalty unit.
Related guides
- Stray Hold Periods: 3 Days, 6 Days and the Clock on the Kennel Card
- Adopting a Three-Legged Cat: The 6-Week Test and Real Costs
- Adopting a Blind Cat: 3 Room Fixes, 14 Days
- Adopting a Diabetic Cat: 2 Shots a Day, 800–2,000 a Year
- Adopting a Cat With FUS: 3 Setup Rules and Real Costs
- Adopting a Cat With Skin Twitching: 5 Scores, 2-Week Log