Salter Point – Point Reserves, River Curves & Hunting Lines

Salter Point sits deep between bends in the Canning River, with narrow foreshore reserves and quiet streets running right down to the water. For roaming cats, that shape means fast access to rich bird and reptile habitat all along the point.

How Salter Point’s layout shapes cat & wildlife interactions

Houses near the end of Redmond Street, Elderfield Road and along Salter Point Parade sit only a short hop from bushy foreshore and shallow river bays. A cat slipping through a gap in a rear fence can reach the reserve path in under a minute. Because the suburb tapers to a narrow point, both cats and wildlife tend to move along the same linear corridors of path, scrub and beach.

Wildlife most exposed in Salter Point

• Black swans and ducks often visible feeding in the shallows around the point and nearby bays.
• Other waterbirds using mudflats and sandbars at low tide.
• Frogs and aquatic invertebrates likely present in wet margins and drains feeding into the river.
• Skinks and small lizards basking on limestone blocks, retaining walls and rocky outcrops along the path.

Common cat lifestyles in Salter Point

• Backyard-to-reserve wanderers near the Aquinas College and foreshore edges.
• Foreshore stalkers following the narrow strip of scrub and path around the point after dark.
• High-veranda watchers on elevated river-view homes, looking down over the water and reserves.

High-risk hotspots for cats & wildlife

• Narrow reserve strips near the very end of the point.
• Wetland-style patches and low-lying grass west of Salter Point Parade.
• Foreshore curves with shallow feeding areas where birds congregate at low tide.

Cat rules that apply in Salter Point

As in the rest of the City, Salter Point cat owners must comply with the WA Cat Act 2011 and local laws on registration, microchipping and desexing. The foreshore’s importance for waterbirds means extra care is recommended, and the City can designate cat-restricted areas if needed to protect sensitive habitat.

A better life for your Salter Point cat

• Strongly consider full containment if you can see the river or reach it via a short walk.
• Use balcony meshing for elevated decks and verandas on river-view homes.
• Bring cats inside from late afternoon to reduce hunting around evening roosting times for birds.