Melbourne cats given the freedom to go out at night – on one condition

He sleeps on beds made of kangaroo skin, hangs out at South Yarra cafes and goes on interstate road trips.

His diet includes quail, venison and lamb.

And now the City of Melbourne has granted Kepler Copernicus, the Russian blue, his due respect — the freedom to go out during the cat curfew.

Kepler and his owner, cat trainer Sonia Hank, who wrote to the council about the issue, have paved the way for other cats to leave home during the nightly cat curfew between 6pm to 8am.

But there’s one condition — the cats must be on leashes.

Hank says she is “stoked”.

“It means he can come out for dinner with us,” she says.

Hank, who will speak at the upcoming Melbourne Cat Lovers Show about training “adventure cats” and raising a confident cat, supports cat curfews to protect wildlife.

As an environmental science major and science educator, she doesn’t support free-roaming cats.

However, she doesn’t think cats should always be confined to a home.

Over his five-year life, Hank has taken Kepler cycling, kayaking, and camping – all while on his leash.

In 2023, Hank wrote to then-Royal Botanic Gardens CEO, Tim Entwisle, with a lighthearted request to take Kepler into the gardens on a leash. Entwisle said it was only fair, under diversity and inclusivity and equality with dogs, that the request be approved.

Hank and Kepler now visit the gardens daily. Also, in a nearby park, Hank teaches Kepler skills like obedience, jumping on a bench and weaving around her legs.

The recent City of Melbourne curfew rule stated that, from October 1, all cats must be confined to their owners’ premises between 6pm and 8am.

Hank wrote to the council, saying this would be unfair and inconvenient for owners who walk cats before or after work or school.

And after The Age raised Hank’s case, the council said they would not penalise owners who walked cats on leashes outside curfew hours.

Cat policies will be reviewed in six months; meanwhile, local law officers have discretion in enforcement, the council said.

“We understand that some owners like to walk their cats on a leash,” a council spokesperson said.

“This is quite unique, and if cats are properly controlled by their owners, there would be no reason to issue an infringement.”

Hank said all cats can learn to walk on a leash, but “you must pay them” with treats.

“Unlike dogs, cats won’t do things for free,” she said. “And they won’t do things to please you.”

The outdoor adventures of Kepler Copernicus, who is named after two pioneering astronomers, will continue.

“I want him to have a really good life, and I want him to be a model for other cats and their guardians, so that they can see what is possible,” Hank said.

The Cat Lovers Festival and Dog Lovers Festival are on at Melbourne Showgrounds on October 25 and 26. Sonia Hank and Kepler will be on stage both days at 11.30am and 1.45pm.

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