Como – Cats, Neil McDougall Lake & Tree-Lined Streets

In Como, many cats live within easy walking distance of Neil McDougall Lake, the Preston Street café strip or the Swan River foreshore. That mix of lakes, tall trees and river frontage gives roaming cats a lot to explore – and brings them close to waterbirds, frogs and small reptiles.

How Como’s layout shapes cat & wildlife interactions

The lake at Neil McDougall Park sits almost in the middle of the suburb, just off Henley Street. Cats in the surrounding grid of streets can follow verges and driveways straight down to the water’s edge. West of the highway, streets like Thelma Street and Lockhart Street drop towards the river, giving cats a clear line from backyard to foreshore. Older, leafy gardens and verge trees create shaded corridors that both small birds and roaming cats tend to use.

Wildlife most exposed to cats in Como

• Waterbirds at Neil McDougall Lake – ducks and other waterbirds are regularly recorded on and around the lake.
• Frogs and aquatic invertebrates – likely to use the shallow vegetated edges and drains feeding into the lake, especially after rain.
• Small birds – honeyeaters, doves and other small birds move between lake-edge trees, street trees and private gardens.
• Skinks and small lizards – common around rockeries, brick edging and warm verge walls in older parts of the suburb.

Common cat lifestyles in Como

• Garden roamers near the lake – houses within a block or two of Neil McDougall Park often have generous yards and older fences that are easy for cats to slip under.
• Balcony cats around the Preston Street strip – units above shops and apartments on nearby streets, where cats enjoy views but may try to push through balcony gaps if not screened.
• River-track wanderers – cats that follow streets running down to the river, then walk along the foreshore track hunting at low tide.

High-risk hotspots for cats & wildlife

• Neil McDougall Lake edge – planted margins likely support frogs and nesting waterbirds, making any cat that reaches this strip a serious risk.
• Foreshore near Olives Reserve – a small river reserve at the end of suburban streets, where birds forage along the shore and cats can arrive via cul-de-sacs.
• Tree-lined central streets – streets like Ryrie Avenue and surrounding reserves provide canopy and shrub cover for both wildlife and hunting cats.

Cat rules that apply in Como

Como residents follow the WA Cat Act 2011 and the City of South Perth’s cat laws. These require microchipping, desexing and registration, and allow the City to manage nuisance or wandering cats and protect sensitive wildlife areas, particularly along lake and river edges.

A better life for your Como cat

• Use containment if you can see Neil McDougall Lake or the foreshore from your regular walking route.
• Mesh balconies around Preston Street to keep indoor cats safe above the street.
• Bring cats in around sunset, when frogs and insects are active near the lake and river.
• Give indoor cats window perches over gardens and trees so they can watch wildlife without stalking it.

Helpful links

• City of South Perth – Cats
• Parks & Reserves (Neil McDougall Park)