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WA Feral Cat Working Group

@wafcwg.bsky.social
17 followers 30 following 19 posts

To improve the trajectory of native fauna conservation outcomes across Western Australia through collaborative, effective, resource-efficient and humane management of cats. #WAFCWG

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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Feedback submissions are due tomorrow for the WA Cat Act review (31 Aug)! Our @wafcwg.bsky.social guidelines: wafcwg.org.au/wp-content/u... Advice on urban myths & fallacies: wafcwg.org.au/wp-content/u... This is your chance to shape the future of cat welfare & responsible pet ownership in WA.
A cat paws a notepad with coffee and a computer sitting nearby.  A gentle reminder to submit your feedback for the WA Cat Act review, due tomorrow (31 Aug).
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Job opportunity: Senior Project Coordinator at @wafcwg.bsky.social Help improve cat management across Western Australia through information sharing, research facilitation and collaboration. Please share & tag! Further details: external.jobs.uwa.edu.au/jobs/senior-... Closing: Thu 27 Aug 2026
The WA Feral Cat Working Group is recruiting.  Come and join us as our Senior Project Coordinator.  Applications close Thu 27 August.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Preventing cats from roaming keeps them safe from harm and protect native wildlife. This is even more important as H5 bird flu spreads; cats have mortality rates of up to 70%. Here's how pet owners can support their furry friends in making the transition. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
theguardian.com
Safe as houses: how to make your outdoor cat at home indoors to protect themselves and the environment
Keeping cats indoors can keep them safe from harm and protect native wildlife. But how can pet owners support their furry friends in making the transition?
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Reposted by WA Feral Cat Working Group
PETA @peta.org · 08/08/2026
Cats don’t have nine lives. They have ONE, and they’re counting on YOU to keep them safe.   Keep cats indoors.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
It's International Cat Day, make it a day to care more about pet cats. Share your views on the WA Cat Act review using our guidance based on the latest scientific knowledge: tinyurl.com/wacatact Be part of a better future for pet cats, wildlife and people in Western Australia. #bioinvasions
An image of a pet cat resting on a couch celebrating International Cat Day and asking people to share feedback on the WA Cat Act review via the following link: https://tinyurl.com.wacatact
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Have you submitted your feedback on the WA Cat Act review (due 31 Aug)? Guidelines to help: wafcwg.org.au/wp-content/u... Advice on urban myths & fallacies: wafcwg.org.au/wp-content/u... This is your chance to shape the future of cat welfare & responsible pet ownership in WA. #bioinvasions 🌏🌐
A pet cat paws at a note pad and computer with a cup of black coffee nearby.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
WA is reviewing its Cat Act and wants your feedback. The @wafcwg.bsky.social have prepared evidence-based content to use for answering their questions. For the sake of cats, people and wildlife, we need to get this right. Read up and submit your views before 31 Aug! wafcwg.org.au/media_post/w...
Make a contribution to the future of responsible cat ownership in Western Australia. Prepare your own submission to the Cat Act review using our guidelines.Make a contribution to the future of responsible cat ownership in Western Australia. Prepare your own submission to the Cat Act review using our guidelines.

Our highest priority recommendations include:
• A centralised registration and management system for cats (and ideally all pets).
• Early age sterilisation no later than four months of age.
• Mandatory permanent containment at the state level.
• A significant education campaign for all aspects of responsible pet cat ownership.
• A clearer binary approach to terminology (owned, unowned) across WA’s cat-related policy and legislation.
• Consistency in laws across the state, including consistent enforcement, numbers of cats a household can own and the reporting of cat management metrics.
• Use-based cost sharing to support centralised cat management facilities. 

Download the full recommendations from our WAFCWG website.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The Cat Act is being reviewed in Western Australia, public comment is open. Next week the WA Feral Cat Working Group will be publishing our guidance on the changes needed to improve responsible pet cat ownership in Western Australia. We encourage you to use our guidance to shape your submission!
A content grey cat sits on a couch looking at the camera.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
"The overwhelming majority of people now understand the science and all the robust evidence that shows us cat containment done well is better for pet cats, better for wildlife and better for people" www.swtimes.com.au/news/regiona...
swtimes.com.au
Cats carnage unchecked with legislation stuck in limbo
An estimated 18 million native animals and almost 4000 pet cats have been killed in the past five months, despite legislation capable of stopping the carnage sitting in limbo in Parliament.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Why has the Cat Act Amendment Bill stalled in the WA parliament? It is certainly not because it is lacking bipartisan support and widespread recognition that the issue is an urgent priority. Let’s get this done. #bioinvasions
Quotes from WA state politicians that show bipartisan support for the Cat Amendment (Local Laws) Bill in Western AustraliaQuotes from WA state politicians that show bipartisan support for the Cat Amendment (Local Laws) Bill in Western Australia
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
On Feb 25 a bill was tabled to let WA local govts implement cat containment. Despite bipartisan support it has inexplicably stalled. Since then, in Greater Perth c. 17.5M animals have been killed by roaming pet cats and 3600 pet cats have died from roaming incidents. It's time to end the slaughter.
A cat with blue eyes stares at the camera in a dark room.  Photo: Pacto Visual.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Our new Chair, Prof Peter Klinken, is calling for urgent progress on WA's stalled Cat Amendment (Local Laws) Bill. Giving local governments the power to introduce cat containment laws is an important step for protecting native wildlife. Read more: www.watoday.com.au/national/wes...
watoday.com.au
The shocking figures behind an urgent push to revive WA’s stalled cat laws
Every week, one million animals are killed by roaming cats across greater Perth, while 200 pet cats are killed in roaming related incidents.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
We’re pleased to welcome Prof Peter Klinken AC as the new Chair of the WA Feral Cat Working Group. His appointment comes as momentum builds to improve pet, stray and feral cat management across WA. We also thank Susan Hunt AM PSM for her outstanding leadership. #Biodiversity #WA
We’re pleased to welcome Prof Peter Klinken AC as the new Chair of the WA Feral Cat Working Group. Included is a picture of Peter wearing a hat in the bush.
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Reposted by WA Feral Cat Working Group
Bruce Webber @drbrucewebber.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Come join the Urban Bushland Council WA for an important (and free!) evening focused on the future of responsible cat ownership and wildlife protection. 📅: Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 6pm 📍: City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth RSVP: www.bushlandperth.org.au/event/amendi...
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Reposted by WA Feral Cat Working Group
Bruce Webber @drbrucewebber.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Introduced foxes and cats have had a devastating impact on Australia's mammals. This threat to biodiversity has been widely recognised, documented and acted upon by scientists, policy makers and land managers. Here we refute recent assertions to the contrary. Read more (OA): doi.org/10.1093/bios...
Timing of extirpation of a native mammal population from a location relative to the time of arrival of feral cats at that location. Data are taken directly from Supplement 1 in Wallach and Lundgren (2025), using the last record of the native species, and the earliest arrival date from the range of arrival dates of cats to that location. Based on this information, extirpation of a native mammal occurs before cats arrive in only two cases, and these are where Wallach and Lundgren (2025) arbitrarily give the last record dates of 1788 and 1789 (i.e., time of European colonization, in 1788) for undated subfossil material. Of the 178 cases given in the Supplement, eight are omitted from this graph because: they were repeats of another row (n=4), there is no date for the last record of the species (n=1), the species is still present at the location (n=2), or the species never occurred at the location (n=1).
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Reposted by WA Feral Cat Working Group
Bruce Webber @drbrucewebber.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
A new paper in @pacificconsbio.bsky.social reveals that preventing pet cats from roaming remains a significant but important challenge. Our findings reveal that change is long overdue for Western Australians to rethink what it means to be a responsible pet cat owner. OA: doi.org/10.1071/PC25...
A content cat lies in a hammock in an enclosed catio to protect it and wildlife from the dangers of roaming.  This photo accompanies a new publication in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology on the benefits of cat containment.
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Reposted by WA Feral Cat Working Group
Pacific Conservation Biology @pacificconsbio.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Time to paws and reflect: Responsible cat care is the purr-fect move Gillian Bryant and @drbrucewebber.bsky.social from @wafcwg.bsky.social looked at past, current and planned efforts in Western Australia to improve responsible cat ownership #OpenAccess in #PacificConsBio buff.ly/p4chswW
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
What do WA local governments want when it comes to responsible cat ownership? What have they tried? What do they want to do? What are their challenges? We asked them! 78% of LGAs in WA would do permanent containment for pet cats if there was a clear pathway to implementation. Read the report. 👇
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
“It is time for Western Australia to enable and encourage local cat laws that enable permanent containment for pet cats” The broader implications of our survey of local governments across WA regarding responsible pet cat ownership. www.watoday.com.au/national/wes...
watoday.com.au
WA councils want to outlaw roaming cats. Here’s what’s stopping them
Perth’s Cat Haven could halve its annual intake if councils made cat containment laws, it says – and many councils are trying.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
The cost of permanent containment for pet cats can be cheaper than a single vet bill to cover treating a roaming-related accident (car strike, animal attack). Suitable containment solutions can even be done in a temporary way for renters. Time to rethink the problem. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...
abc.net.au
Debt, death or surrender: The impossible choice faced by cash-strapped pet owners
Michael thought he would have to surrender his beloved cat when he was suddenly hit with a big emergency vet bill. Experts say many Australians are taking on debts through high-interest loan schemes o...
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Quite possibly one of the clearest summaries as to why change is both possible and necessary for the permanent containment of pet cats in Western Australia. Let's get this change happening now! www.watoday.com.au/national/wes...
watoday.com.au
‘Bold’ WA council fights back on cats
Twenty-three local governments have tried and failed to enact cat containment laws. This one thinks it’s got a solution – and it could come just in time.
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Please join us for this important workshop on the how of implementing permanent containment for pet cats. This is all part of the process for moving to a new normal for best practice cat ownership in Western Australia. We hope you can all be part of that change. See you online on the 12th June!
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
👏 A great turnout at a 🐇 control workshop last week to provide Southwest landholders access to the R5 calicivirus release for introduced rabbits. #feralcats, #foxes & dingoes all consume rabbits as prey and rabbits cause environmental degradation across Australia. Check out LBG website lbginc.org.au
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WA Feral Cat Working Group @wafcwg.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
"Not just nestlings were killed...numerous eggs were cracked open & six breeding mothers killed." Tree hollows & food trees used by #endangered #Blackcockatoos are increasingly rare, & it doesn't help their population when #cats add to their demise. #feralcats. www.watoday.com.au/national/wes...
watoday.com.au
People ‘just picking up’ starving WA cockatoos as burglars target nests
At what point does a pet become a pest? Meanwhile, here’s why one of Perth’s foremost black cockatoo rehab figures is saying he’s ‘never seen anything like it’.
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