Wyndham City Council has released the key dates for the rollout of its new 24-hour cat containment rules, confirming a staged approach across 2026 before fines are introduced.
The changes form part of Council’s Domestic Animal Management Plan 2026–2029, which extends Wyndham’s existing 10pm–6am cat curfew to full-day containment. Once fully enforced, cats will be required to remain within their owner’s property boundary at all times, including backyards.
Council says the rollout has been deliberately staged to give cat owners time to prepare. An education campaign will run from January to March 2026, followed by a caution-only period between April and August, where no infringements will be issued for breaches of the extended curfew. From September to November, final warnings will be issued and repeat breaches recorded, before full enforcement begins in December 2026, with fines issued under the Domestic Animals Act.
During the transition, the current overnight 10pm–6am curfew will remain in place, with Council continuing to focus on education rather than penalties.
Council has confirmed that existing fine amounts will continue to apply under the current overnight curfew, with enforcement of the extended 24-hour containment rules not commencing until December 2026.
At present, the fine for an owner of a registered cat found wandering during curfew hours is $102. A higher penalty applies where a cat is not registered, with a fine of $407 for failing to apply for or renew a cat’s registration, which is the prescribed penalty under Council’s Local Law.
Council notes that fine amounts are reviewed each financial year, meaning penalties may change before the extended containment rules are fully enforced.
The decision follows extensive community consultation, with more than 1,000 residents taking part in early engagement and 66 submissions received during the public exhibition period. While most submissions supported stronger cat containment, views across the community remain divided.
Some residents say the confirmed timeline provides certainty and relief. Wyndham resident Andy Elbe said he was “so pleased to see this,” adding that it would mean “no more cats digging up my garden and leaving their waste” and “no more cats terrorising my visiting birds.”
Others argue the policy targets the wrong priorities. Another resident, Amber Boers, described the decision as “a joke,” saying Wyndham Council had “bigger fish to fry,” pointing to accessibility issues, illegal parking, youth services and homelessness, and questioning how realistic it is to stop cats leaving their properties.
Beyond cat containment, the Domestic Animal Management Plan also addresses barking dogs, off-leash behaviour, dog attacks and the growing number of unregistered pets. Council says it will update education materials, encourage higher registration rates and continue existing programs such as desexing support and its cat trapping service for unowned animals.
Cat containment is recommended by the RSPCA as a way to reduce injuries from vehicles, fighting and disease, while also limiting nuisance behaviour such as spraying, fighting and digging in neighbouring gardens, and reducing harm to native wildlife.
Council will deliver education campaigns throughout 2026 to help cat owners understand containment options, including cat-proof fencing, outdoor enclosures, fence-top devices and enrichment activities.
The plan replaces Wyndham’s 2021–2025 Domestic Animal Management Plan and will guide Council’s approach to animal management across the municipality until 2029.
