City of Canning – River Corridors, Wetlands & Backyard Cats

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City of Canning – River Corridors, Wetlands & Backyard Cats

The City of Canning sits in Perth’s southeastern suburbs, wrapped around the middle reaches of the Canning River and its billabongs, wetlands and urban parks, about 10 kilometres from the CBD (S5). Many homes are only a short walk from river foreshore, drainage lines or pockets of bushland, so a roaming cat can move quickly from a quiet backyard into places used by waterbirds, frogs, lizards and small mammals. Keeping cats safe at home in secure enclosures, netted courtyards and cat-safe yards makes a real difference to both local wildlife and pet cat safety in this river city (S7, S8, S10, S11).

How the Canning layout shapes cat & wildlife interactions

The City of Canning is divided by the Canning River and includes a mix of older suburbs, newer residential areas, industrial zones and major roads (S5). Linear river corridors, parks and drainage reserves weave through suburbs like Cannington, Riverton, Wilson and Willetton, creating green fingers that connect backyards with wetlands, samphire flats, river banks and street trees (S7, S8, S10).

For a free-roaming cat, these corridors function as movement pathways: quiet laneways, verges and garden networks feed into foreshore parks, the Canning River Regional Park and other bushland pockets. City and state documents highlight that domestic and feral cats are among the key pest animals affecting local natural areas, particularly in and around the Regional Park where they are likely to hunt birds, reptiles and other small creatures (S9, S11, S5).

Wildlife & habitats most exposed in City of Canning

• Canning River Regional Park & Kent Street Weir – Along Djarlgarro Beeliar (Canning River), this Regional Park protects salt marshes, billabongs, estuarine samphire flats and freshwater riparian vegetation, including flooded gums, river banksia and melaleucas (S7, S8). Nature Play WA notes that at least 97 bird species have been recorded here, with waterbirds such as cormorants, swamp hens, ibis, pelicans, egrets, ducks and spoonbills regularly seen along the river (S7). Management plans emphasise that domestic cats in nearby suburbs are likely to hunt birds, reptiles and other fauna, so keeping pet cats contained is important for both cat safety and the park’s biodiversity (S9).
• Bannister Creek and associated parklands – Bannister Creek and its reserves in suburbs such as Lynwood support stretches of native bushland and creekline habitat inside an otherwise urban setting (S16). The City notes that dogs should not chase birds or other wildlife in these reserves, and lists feral and stray cats among the most problematic pest animals in natural areas, underlining the sensitivity of these creek corridors to roaming predators (S11, S16).
• Urban bushland and cat-prohibited reserves – The City’s biodiversity and local law documents describe a network of bushland reserves and river parklands, including areas within Canning River Regional Park and Queens Park bushland, that are recognised as important habitat and listed as “cat prohibited areas” in the City’s Cats Local Law framework (S5, S10, S14, S15). These sites provide refuge for native birds, reptiles and small mammals close to housing.
• Street trees, pocket parks and native gardens – Across suburbs like Bentley, East Cannington, Parkwood, Willetton and Wilson, street trees, verges, pocket parks and native home gardens help form ecological corridors for wildlife (S5, S10, S17). City guidance encourages residents to plant structurally diverse native gardens that attract dragonflies, birds, lizards, frogs and small marsupials, which can bring sensitive wildlife right up to backyard fences where free-roaming cats can easily reach them (S10, S17).
• Backyard wildlife & education hubs – Programs based around the Canning River Eco Education Centre (CREEC) and other community initiatives focus on local biodiversity, including threatened black cockatoos and riverine wildlife, and encourage residents to get involved in wildlife-friendly gardening and monitoring (S10, S18, S21). As more backyards become wildlife-friendly, cat safety and responsible containment become even more critical.

Common cat lifestyles in City of Canning

• River-adjacent backyard explorers – In river-fringing suburbs where homes sit a short walk from foreshore parks or the Canning River Regional Park, some cats are allowed outside unsupervised and may follow paths and back fences down to the water’s edge, where they can encounter waterbirds, frogs and turtles, as well as other people’s pets (S7, S8, S9).
• Suburban street and laneway roamers – In middle suburbs with a mix of cul-de-sacs, laneways and local parks, free-roaming cats often move between multiple properties overnight, hunting along drainage lines, verge gardens and school ovals. City pest management information highlights feral and stray cats as a recurring issue in natural areas, which can be exacerbated when owned cats are allowed to wander (S11, S8).
• Indoor cats with occasional outdoor access – Many households in the City keep cats indoors most of the time for cat safety and neighbourhood amenity, allowing only short, supervised time outside. Where this access is paired with cat-safe fencing, netting and enclosed runs, roaming is greatly reduced and cats are still able to enjoy sun, fresh air and enrichment (S10, S17).
• Fully contained “cat safe” homes – A growing number of residents are moving towards full containment: cats live indoors and in purpose-built outdoor enclosures or netted courtyards, with climbing structures and hiding places. This “cat safing” approach aligns with the City’s broader focus on protecting significant fauna and reducing the impact of introduced predators, while also keeping cats safe from roads, dogs and getting lost (S10, S11, S12).

Cat rules that apply across City of Canning

Like all local governments in Western Australia, the City of Canning operates under the WA Cat Act 2011, which requires that pet cats over six months of age are microchipped, sterilised (unless exempt) and registered with the local council (S2, S3). State and local guidance explains that cats should also wear an identification tag to help them be returned home if they become lost (S2, S3, S1).

The City’s own cat registration information reinforces these requirements, noting that cats must be microchipped prior to registration and providing details on how to register, transfer ownership and update contact details (S1, S4). Separate information for residents covers what to do if a cat is lost or impounded, and how to contact Rangers and Community Safety Services (S4, S8).

In addition to statewide laws, the City has developed a Cats Local Law 2020 to give it extra tools for managing cats, including limiting cat numbers in certain circumstances, setting conditions for cat management facilities and designating specific bushland reserves as cat-prohibited areas (S12, S14, S15). Local biodiversity documents note nine bushland areas listed as cat-prohibited, including City-managed parts of Canning River Regional Park and Queens Park reserves (S14). Residents should always check the City of Canning website for the most current local law provisions.

The Cat Safety Network strongly recommends keeping cats contained at all times – indoors and in well-designed, cat safe outdoor spaces – even where only basic registration is legally required. This goes beyond minimum legal obligations and reflects best practice for cat safety, neighbourhood harmony and protection of local wildlife (S9, S10, S11).

Suburbs within City of Canning

The City of Canning comprises 16 suburbs, with some shared across local government boundaries. Each will have its own Cat Safety Network page, exploring how local streets, parks and waterways shape cat safety and wildlife interactions in that suburb (S5, S6).

• Bentley – Older housing, campuses and busy roads with pockets of green space where roaming cats can move quickly between backyards and nearby parks (S5, S6).
• Canning Vale (part) – Large family blocks and local wetlands on the edge of the City’s boundary, where contained cats avoid long-distance roaming along drainage lines (S5, S6).
• Cannington – Major activity centre and transport hub with nearby creeklines and small reserves that benefit when cats stay safely at home (S5, S11).
• East Cannington – Residential streets and drainage corridors that link private gardens with shared open space (S5, S11).
• Ferndale – Close to Bannister Creek and associated bushland reserves, where cat containment helps protect birds and other small wildlife (S5, S11, S16).
• Leeming (part) – Leafy streets and local parks along the City’s boundary where indoor cats avoid conflict with traffic and wildlife (S5, S6).
• Lynwood – Suburban homes near creek reserves and native bushland pockets, making cat-safe yards valuable for local biodiversity (S5, S16).
• Parkwood – Family homes and playing fields with drainage lines and tree corridors that free-roaming cats may otherwise use as hunting routes (S5, S11).
• Queens Park – Residential areas close to bushland and open space listed in local biodiversity documents, where cat prohibitions and containment support sensitive fauna (S5, S14).
• Riverton – River-adjacent neighbourhoods where cat safety measures help reduce hunting pressure along foreshore vegetation and shared paths (S5, S7, S8).
• Rossmoyne – Established river suburbs with foreshore access, where nets, enclosures and indoor living keep cats safe from traffic and protect waterbirds (S5, S7).
• Shelley – Riverfront streets, parks and paths that become safer for wildlife when cats are fully contained (S5, S7, S8).
• St James (part) – Inner-suburban blocks and shared verges where indoor cats avoid roaming near busy roads (S5, S6).
• Welshpool – Industrial and commercial areas with pockets of vegetation where unowned cats may establish; desexing, registration and containment help prevent strays (S5, S11).
• Willetton – Larger family homes, schools and local parks where netted yards and balcony enclosures provide cat-safe outdoor space without roaming (S5, S10).
• Wilson – Home to Kent Street Weir and parts of Canning River Regional Park, where keeping cats indoors or in secure runs is particularly important for protecting riverine wildlife (S5, S7, S8, S9).

A better life for cats in City of Canning

• Consider netting and secure runs to give your cat safe outdoor time. Well-designed cat-safe fencing and balcony netting can turn courtyards, side passages and patios into cat-safe retreats without allowing roaming into nearby reserves or neighbours’ yards (S7, S10, S17).
• Focus on cat safety at home by “cat safing” your yard: provide shady hiding spots, climbing structures, scratching posts and high perches inside enclosures so your cat can climb, rest and watch the world without risk from cars, dogs or getting lost (S10, S17).
• Bring cats indoors during key wildlife times, such as dusk and dawn, when many birds, frogs and small mammals are most active along the river and in bushland patches. This simple habit reduces hunting opportunities while still allowing rich indoor lives for cats (S7, S8, S9).
• Enrich indoor life with play, puzzle feeders, window perches and rotation of toys so contained cats stay stimulated and less inclined to try to escape. Many households in Canning already manage happy, fully indoor cats in apartments and houses (S10, S17).
• Work with neighbours to keep the whole street cat safe – sharing ideas about cat enclosures, registration and microchipping can help reduce stray and feral cat issues in local parks and drainage reserves (S11, S12).
• If you see injured wildlife, snakes or feral animals like unowned cats, follow City guidance on who to call and how to report them, so that trained staff and wildlife groups can respond appropriately (S11, S12, S8).

Useful links & references

• City of Canning – Cat registration and ownership
• WA Government – Laws for responsible cat owners (Cat Act 2011)
• City of Canning – Pets and other animals
• City of Canning – Our natural environment
• City of Canning – Biodiversity in our City
• City of Canning – Feral pest management
• City of Canning – Parks directory (including Bannister Creek Park)
• Nature Play WA – Canning River Regional Park & Kent Street Weir
• DBCA – Canning River Regional Park (Explore Parks WA)
• City of Canning – Residents overview