Wellington Shire Council's vision is for happy people, healthy environment and thriving communities.
After Hours Emergency
1300 366 244Following extensive community engagement, a 24-hour cat curfew is now in place throughout Wellington Shire. The Council Order was made at the 20 December 2022 Council Meeting and advertised as per the Local Government Act on 19 January 2023.
The cat curfew requires all cat owners in Wellington Shire to ensure their cats are always confined to their property. This can be achieved by installing a simple outdoor cat enclosure or keeping your cat inside.
Penalties for a breach of this curfew range from $192.00 for the first offence, and $577.00 for second or subsequent offences.
The Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires all dogs to be confined to their owner’s property unless under effective control, however it is up to individual councils to determine confinement rules for cats.
Following adoption of Council’s 2021-2025 Domestic Animal Plan (DAM Plan), Council engaged in community consultation regarding a proposed 24-hour cat curfew. 1,628 residents responded to the survey with 68% supporting a 24-hour curfew, meaning cats must always be confined to their properties, much the same as what is required of dog owners.
While cats are very popular pets, roaming cats are a serious concern. Wandering cats can and do:
It is well-established that contained cats have a higher life expectancy than cats that are allowed to wander. Contained cats are protected from disease, car accidents, fights and getting lost.
If you find a nuisance cat on your property you should always try to talk to the owner.
If you try this and can’t resolve the issue, you can use a box or carrier to secure the cat and drop it off to Animal Aid in Sale. You can also contact Council to collect the cat for you.
For stray or timid cats you may hire a cat trap from us by contacting Council. Cat traps require a $67.00 deposit (refunded when trap is returned in good condition).
Go to our Animals and Pets page to get more information about wandering and stray cats.
Keep your cat enclosed by doing-it-yourself and installing cat proof fencing or adding a cat enclosure to your house or shed. Or keep your best buddy inside.
You can see the YouTube videos below for inspiration to help you build a cat enclosure:
It’s important that you register your cat with Council so it can be returned home.
Council will always try to return a lost cat to its home by checking if it’s registered and has microchip details. If the owner can’t be reached, it will be taken to Animal Aid – Council’s animal shelter in Sale.
Once there, the wonderful team at Animal Aid will try to track down the owners or find the cat a new family as soon as they can.
If a cat is taken to the animal shelter, there will be a fee to organise its release. Fees depend on whether the cat was registered or desexed when it was found.
There is no such thing as a 'working' or 'farm cat.' Farmers or people who own large rural properties may have cats that are not microchipped, registered, or desexed, often referred to as 'working cats.' However, all cats are included in Council's Domestic Animal Management Plan and are part of the 24-hour cat curfew. Unmanaged cats like these contribute significantly to stray and feral cat problems. All cats must be registered, microchipped, desexed, and kept safe in line with the 24-hour cat curfew.
There is no evidence that cats effectively control rats and mice. Cats that hunt also kill native animals, impacting local biodiversity. Protecting biodiversity in Wellington Shire is a key outcome of the 24-hour cat curfew. Pet cats that roam and hunt can kill up to 186 animals each year, including 115 native species. 'Working cats' are at increased risk of becoming stray or feral if not confined under the 24-hour cat curfew.