Update

Brimbank Council has adopted the new Domestic Animal Management Plan (DAMP) 2026-2029, setting a clear framework for the responsible care and management of cats and dogs in Brimbank over the next four years.

The new plan was informed by extensive community feedback, including an online survey in June-July 2025 (123 responses), a YourSay consultation in September-October 2025 (83 responses), and an in-person listening post at a local off-leash dog park in October 2025.

We’re grateful for the valuable feedback provided by our community which helped shape the plan.

Goals of the Plan

Goals of the Plan

You can see more details about how we plan to achieve each of these goals in the Plan.

Cat Containment FAQ

FAQ - What is the Cat Containment Initiative?

Council commits to keeping cats safe and happy while also protecting our community and environment. That’s why we’re introducing a Cat Containment Initiative on 1 January 2028. This means always keeping your cat within the boundaries of your property.

By containing your cat, you reduce their risk of:

  • becoming sick, injured or killed by cars and other animals;
  • being impounded or lost forever;
  • interacting or breeding with undesexed and diseased cats.

Cat containment helps reduce cat overpopulation which is overwhelming our animal shelters. It also reduces the impact of wandering cats on Australian wildlife.

There are many ways you can provide stimulating activities for your cats and let them explore the outdoors in a safe way without wandering. These include:

  • make a cat-friendly home
  • create a stimulating environment through playtime and enrichment
  • build a cat run or cat enclosure in your backyard/balcony
  • install cat-proof fencing in your backyard
  • train your cat to use a leash and carrier

You’ll have plenty of time to help prepare your cat and your home or property. Council plans to put in place the new Cat Containment Initiative on 1 January 2028. We recognise this is a big change for some cat owners and want to make sure you have enough time to transition.

Council will support cat owners in the following ways:

  • Animal Management officers will attend festivals and events in 2026 /27 to provide advice to cat owners.
  • We will have an extensive media and advertising campaign to make sure everyone knows about the change.
  • We have delayed introducing Cat Containment Initiative until 1 January 2028. This will allow cat owners to plan, budget and take necessary measures to contain their cat.
  • We will investigate subsidised support opportunities with providers and local stakeholders to assist cat owners.
  • We will continue trapping semi-owned/feral cats and offer subsidised desexing programs.

We have not decided the infringement amount yet, but we will give updates through an extensive media campaign in 2027. Following the implementation of the Cat Containment Initiative, we will continue to educate residents. There will be a warning period before we issue infringements for breaches.

Cat nuisance, over-population through unplanned breeding and negative effects on wildlife happen at all times of the day. Curfews are also difficult to enforce, as it is hard to know exactly what time a cat was wandering. Work pressures can also make it difficult for cat owners to follow specific curfew times.