Boroondara just voted to keep cats inside at night. The problem: Two-thirds of them aren’t even registered
More than three in four residents called for some form of curfew.
Matthew Sims
July 30, 2026
Boroondara's estimated 15,000 cats — two-thirds of them unregistered — will be subject to a night-time curfew under a council decision that divided both residents and councillors.
🔐 What’s happening? Boroondara is estimated to have almost 15,000 cats, including 4,816 registered and 10,071 unregistered.
On Monday night, councillors voted to require registered cats to be kept inside between sunset and sunrise. The council will also investigate employing an animal management officer and research how other metropolitan councils manage cats and their impact on wildlife.
📬 Locals split: More than 3,650 residents responded to consultation, with support almost evenly divided between a night-time curfew (38.4 percent), a 24-hour curfew (37.8 percent) and no change (23.8 percent).
🎤 Council split: Six of 10 councillors backed the curfew, with councillor John Friend-Pereira saying it would encourage responsible cat ownership.
🗣️ “We need as many unregistered cats to be registered and for people to take responsible ownership of those cats, not letting them run riot.”
Opponents argued the curfew unfairly targeted registered cats while unregistered cats remained the bigger problem.
🐈⬛ How would it work? Residents could humanely trap roaming cats and ask the council to collect them. Registered cat owners would usually receive a warning before a $102 fine for repeat offences, while unregistered cats would be impounded.
Thumbnail Image Credit: Sara Golemon