Cat curfews and what buyers look for

News Corp reported on the spread of cat containment rules across Victoria. PIPA Chair Cate Bakos said space for a cat can affect how a buyer rates a property, even where it does not add to the price.

The rules

David Bonaddio reported for realestate.com.au on the 7th of September 2026 that 44 of Victoria’s 79 councils had cat curfews by the end of 2024. Another 12 were considering them, according to the state’s Cat Management Strategy. The rules range from night time curfews, such as 7pm to 7am in Maribyrnong from the 1st of July 2026, to 24 hour containment in councils including Knox, Casey and Wyndham. Merri-bek will apply 24 hour containment to cats registered after the 1st of April 2027.

Most DIY enclosures cost $350 to $1,100 in materials, while the largest backyard systems quoted exceed $2,000.

Cate Bakos on cat-owning buyers

Cate Bakos, Chair of PIPA, who was representing two cat-owning buyers at the time, said spending on elaborate enclosures relates more to disposable income and lifestyle than to council rules. Space for the cat, and practical features such as where a litter tray can sit out of view, can still affect a property’s appeal and a cat-owning buyer’s scorecard, without commanding a significant premium. She suggested developers of higher density housing could plan discreet litter tray space and balconies that can be safely enclosed.

Barry Plant Rowville director Anthony Johnson said buyers rarely purchase because an enclosure already exists, and usually install one themselves.

What it means for landlords

About a third of Australian households own a cat, according to Animal Medicines Australia. In Victoria, a renter may ask to keep a pet, and a rental provider who wishes to refuse must apply to VCAT. A rental property where a cat can be contained, through a secure courtyard, screened windows or a balcony that can be enclosed, is open to more tenants under the local rules. Any enclosure a tenant wishes to install is a modification that should be agreed in writing, including whether it is removed at the end of the lease.

For buyers, Ms Bakos framed the question as whether the property can accommodate the household’s pets under the council’s rules, rather than whether a cat enclosure is already installed. The local rule is set out in each council’s domestic animal management plan.

Where the rules are published

Each council publishes its containment rules in its domestic animal management plan. The wider Melbourne market this spring is covered in Melbourne’s spring market and the new auction rules, and buyers and landlords can search for an adviser who holds the QPIA accreditation.