City of South Perth – Cat Safety & Local Wildlife Hub


City of South Perth logo will appear here when provided.

City of South Perth – Rivers, Bushland Pockets & Roaming Cats

The City of South Perth sits on a narrow peninsula between the Swan and Canning Rivers.
Foreshore parks, lakes and small bushland reserves mean pet cats can reach rich bird,
frog and reptile habitat in just a few minutes if they are allowed to roam.

How the City’s layout shapes cat & wildlife interactions

Almost every suburb in the City is close to water or green space. South Perth and Como
run along the Swan River foreshore, while Waterford and Salter Point wrap around bends
in the Canning River. Kensington and Manning sit just behind these river edges, with
older gardens, street trees and pockets of bushland linking back to the water.
City of South Perth – Local Planning Strategy

For a roaming cat, this layout means easy movement along shared corridors of streets,
paths and reserves. A cat slipping under a fence can reach foreshore vegetation, lake
edges or bushland in a few minutes, hunting in the same spaces where quenda, frogs and
ground-feeding birds live.
City of South Perth – Online maps

Wildlife & habitats most exposed in the City

  • Black Swan Habitat and The Lakes along the South Perth foreshore,
    created to give waterbirds safe feeding and nesting space close to the city.
    Black Swan Habitat project
  • Milyu Nature Reserve and nearby wetlands on the Swan River, supporting
    mudflat and shorebird communities right beside residential streets.
    Milyu Nature Reserve
  • Kensington / Jirdarup Bushland, a remnant Banksia woodland that
    provides refuge for small mammals, reptiles and woodland birds within the inner city.
    Friends of Jirdarup Bushland
  • Canning River edges at Waterford and Salter Point, where shallow
    bays, reedbeds and sandbars attract feeding waterbirds at low tide.
    Djirda Miya – island haven for birds

Common cat lifestyles in the City of South Perth

  • Backyard-to-reserve wanderers in streets that back onto river
    foreshore, lakes or bushland, slipping through gaps in fences to hunt in reserves.
  • Foreshore stalkers following shared paths and narrow strips of scrub
    along the Swan and Canning Rivers after dark.
  • Garden patrollers in older suburbs like Kensington and Como, moving
    through connected gardens, verges and tree-lined streets.
  • High-veranda watchers in elevated river-view homes, with cats
    watching birds and small animals from balconies and decks – and sometimes jumping down
    to investigate.

Cat rules that apply across the City

Like the rest of Western Australia, the City of South Perth is covered by the
Cat Act 2011, which requires cats over six months to be microchipped,
sterilised and registered with the local council.
Cat Act overview – City of Perth

Within the City of South Perth, cat owners must ensure their cats are registered,
microchipped and desexed, and that they do not create a nuisance or damage to
wildlife or property. The City can also introduce cat-restricted areas or additional
conditions if needed to protect sensitive habitat.
City of South Perth – Cats

Registration and renewals can be completed online through the City’s
mySouthPerth portal, using proof of microchipping and sterilisation.
Register a cat online

Suburbs within the City of South Perth

The City of South Perth includes a mix of river-edge and inner suburbs. Each will have
its own Cat Safety Network page linked from this hub.

A better life for cats in the City of South Perth

  • Consider full containment if you can see river, lake or bushland from your home, or
    reach it via a short walk.
  • Use balcony meshing or cat-proof balustrades for elevated decks and verandas with
    river or reserve views.
  • Bring cats indoors from late afternoon so they are not hunting around dusk and early
    evening when birds are roosting and frogs are active.
  • Add indoor and outdoor enrichment – shelves, scratching posts, toys and play – so cats
    stay stimulated without needing to roam.
  • Talk with neighbours about cat containment if your street backs onto foreshore,
    lakes or bushland, so local wildlife has a chance to recover.

Useful links & references