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Only 13.6 per cent of respondents had a high level of cat registrations and microchipping, and only 16.5 per cent reported a high level of desexing.
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The survey sought to identify how local governments were faring in their bid to stop cats from killing native wildlife and stray pets from harming themselves.
“Roaming pet cats are sending our suburbs silent,” said Jack Gough, chief executive of the Invasive Species Council.
“Every year across Australia they kill more than 300 million native animals, wiping out birds, reptiles, frogs and small mammals.
“We can’t change the nature of cats, but we can change the culture that allows pet cats to roam and kill our native animals.”
Gough said basic legislative reform was urgently needed to protect wildlife.
“WA is lagging the nation when it comes to ensuring responsible pet ownership laws and local councils are crying out for the state government to step up and empower them to protect wildlife,” he said.
Cat Haven WA chief executive Roz Robinson said about half of the haven’s annual intake “have wandered from their homes and ended up in a cat shelter.”
She said straying cats could be injured by cars or catch diseases from roaming non-desexed males, yet pet cats that were permanently contained lived up to 10 years longer than roaming ones.
“You wouldn’t let your dog wander, why should it be any different for your cat?” she said.
Robinson said July and August were the peak cat breeding season.
“Our phones run hot with complaints from members of the public regarding mating cats, and un-desexed toms spraying and damaging properties. Some members of the public take matters into their own hands with catastrophic outcomes for the cat,” she said.
“What is so frustrating for us is it could all be avoided with owners simply containing their cats to their properties.
“Whilst there will always be the need for people to rehome owned cats, we could literally halve our annual intake.”
The WA Feral Cat Working Group survey was initiated after a meeting in 2024 with Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley. It builds on the findings of an earlier government survey, conducted under the state’s 2019 Cat Act review, that found 73 per cent of people supported laws to prevent cats from roaming.
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Webber said there was increasing support for responsible pet cat ownership, including desexing, microchipping and keeping cats safely at home.
“However, there is inconsistent enabling policy and enforcement across the country, particularly at the local government level where these issues are managed,” he said.
The survey findings have been sent to Beazley and local government chief executives.
“It is time for Western Australia to enable and encourage local cat laws that enable permanent containment for pet cats,” Webber said.
“We cannot wait for yet another review of the Cat Act because that solution will take too long to deliver.”
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