The Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group (ASFCWG) was formed in 2019 to conserve our biodiversity, protect threatened species and increase public awareness about roaming cats.
Our Mission Statement:
“To facilitate the collaboration of organisations and individuals focusing on the conservation of native wildlife through a coordinated approach to undertaking best-practice feral cat control, addressing the stray cat population issues and promoting responsible pet ownership.”
Our group includes a variety of volunteers from catchment groups, wildlife organizations, animal rescue groups, veterinary clinics, cat owners, and representatives from local and state governments. Get involved via email
Our Mission Statement:
“To facilitate the collaboration of organisations and individuals focusing on the conservation of native wildlife through a coordinated approach to undertaking best-practice feral cat control, addressing the stray cat population issues and promoting responsible pet ownership.”
Our group includes a variety of volunteers from catchment groups, wildlife organizations, animal rescue groups, veterinary clinics, cat owners, and representatives from local and state governments. Get involved via email
ASFCWG,
Relative Collaboration Reference map
Jenni is passionate about invasive species, particularly feral cats. Previously Jenni has worked at the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group, the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee, and the Oyster Harbour Catchment Group, where she still works on a voluntary and casual basis. Her previous 20-plus years of experience as a veterinary nurse brings extra talents and skills to the role as does her work in a wildlife clinic and bird hospital. Jenni works two days a week on the project while maintaining some casual work at the Mt Barker Veterinary Hospital. |
Our Steering Committee
Sarah Comer Is the Regional Ecologist for DBCA in the South Coast Region of WA, a position she has been privileged to work in for over 20 years. Sarah’s work is focused on conservation: implementing threatened species recovery programs, monitoring and management of native species, and integrating fire ecology and science into management of biodiversity in the region. Sarah is currently completing a PhD studying feral cat ecology in south coastal ecosystems.  Photo credit J Riggs
Anne Bondin Used to belong to the local branch of the Wildflower Society of WA, but after a few years a growing interest in birds led her to join BirdLife Australia. Currently, she is the convenor of the Albany branch. She is particularly interested in endangered species and has been a member of the South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Team for two decades. With the help of the community, she is hoping that we can reduce the impact cats are having on our wildlife.
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Jackie is a conservation biologist who, as a fresh Ph.D. graduate, worked as Research Officer on the Gilbert's Potoroo Recovery project for about 2.5 years from 1996-1998. She has been on the Gilbert's Potoroo Recovery Team since April 1996 and was co-author with Tony Friend of the first Gilbert’s Potoroo Recovery Plan published in 2004. She became involved with GPAG in late 2015 to help with social media following the 2015 fire at Two Peoples Bay and formally took on the role of GPAG Communications in May 2017. Since 2019 she has also been project managing GPAG’s two State NRM Community Stewardship grants.
Our current project:
Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity-
Protecting Potoroos and their Native Neighbours.
Is being implemented in the Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup region. This area is highly significant to residents, tourists, the scientific community, and the Minang Traditional Owners. Two famous endemic and threatened fauna species live exclusively in the area, the Gilbert’s Potoroo and Noisy Scrub Bird, as well as significant populations of Quokka, Western Ringtail Possum, Western Bristlebird, and Australasian Bittern. In addition, there are many other threatened fauna species with significant populations in this area
One of the main threats to these "bite-sized" species is that of roaming cats. We will work in the community with Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup residents, Noongar groups, school children, and the general public to encourage sustainable social change. We will foster the benefits to cats by keeping them safely contained to your property; discovering barriers and opportunities for feral control; providing education to the community about how to protect the special biodiversity of this unique region, and keeping the community updated on the feral and invasive species happenings in this area.
We Thank the Oyster Harbour Catchment for sponsoring us in this endeavor and State Natural Resource Management for funding this grant.
See blog for more detailed project information. https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-cat-blog.html
Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity-
Protecting Potoroos and their Native Neighbours.
Is being implemented in the Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup region. This area is highly significant to residents, tourists, the scientific community, and the Minang Traditional Owners. Two famous endemic and threatened fauna species live exclusively in the area, the Gilbert’s Potoroo and Noisy Scrub Bird, as well as significant populations of Quokka, Western Ringtail Possum, Western Bristlebird, and Australasian Bittern. In addition, there are many other threatened fauna species with significant populations in this area
One of the main threats to these "bite-sized" species is that of roaming cats. We will work in the community with Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup residents, Noongar groups, school children, and the general public to encourage sustainable social change. We will foster the benefits to cats by keeping them safely contained to your property; discovering barriers and opportunities for feral control; providing education to the community about how to protect the special biodiversity of this unique region, and keeping the community updated on the feral and invasive species happenings in this area.
We Thank the Oyster Harbour Catchment for sponsoring us in this endeavor and State Natural Resource Management for funding this grant.
See blog for more detailed project information. https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-cat-blog.html
Rources
Feral cat information
Increasing knowledge to mitigate cat impacts on Biodiversity.https://wabsi.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/WABSI_Mitigating-cat-impacts_FINAL.pdf
Feral cats now declared as pest DBCA- Feral cat declared pest minimise risk to domestic catsdpaw.wa.gov.au/news/media-statements/minister-for-environment/item/3685-action-taken-to-protect-native-animals-from-feral-cats
Action taken to protect native animals from feral catshttps://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/news/media-statements/minister-for-environment/item/3685-action-taken-to-protect-native-animals-from-feral-cats
Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/78f3dea5-c278-4273-8923-fa0de27aacfb/files/tap-predation-feral-cats-2015.pdf
Western Australia Feral Cat Working Grouphttps://wabsi.org.au/latest-media/wa-feral-cat-working-group/
Feral cats- General informationhttps://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia/feral-cats
https://terrestrialecosystems.com/wa-cat-act-are-you-a-responsible-cat-owner-and-do-you-know-what-it-means-for-feral-cat- trapping/#:~:text=From%201%20November%202013%2C%20the,with%20the%20relevant%20local%20govern
Model for assessing the relative humaneness of pest animal control methods https://www.pestsmart.org.au/a-model-for-assessing-the-relative-humaneness-of-pest-animal-control-methods/
Toxoplasmosis transmission to native animals https://theconversation.com/toxoplasmosis-how-feral-cats-kill-wildlife-without-lifting-a-paw-32228 https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/outdoor-cats-are-helping-mind-controlling-parasite-spread-ubc-study-4754297?fbclid=IwAR0uPfRghh9i0f46LVy5l3xyXjaS5him08Jpi8UU1rOjUgIOU_ibGdR7PM0
The unnoticed toll of cats on reptiles https://www.nespthreatenedspecies.edu.au/news-and-media/latest-news/the-unnoticed-toll-of-cats-on-reptiles
Cats are not scared off by dingoes https://theconversation.com/cats-are-not-scared-off-by-dingoes-we-must-find-another-way-to-protect-native-animals-123039
Why Trap-Neuter-Return Is Not an Ethical Solution for Stray Cat https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6523511/
Feral cat in Simpson Desert eats entire kangaroo carcass, surprising researchers https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-15/feral-cat-caught-on-camera-eating-entire-kangaroo-carcass/11595514
Australia’s Cats Kill Two Billion Animals Annually. Here’s How the Government Is Responding to the Crisis https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/australias-cats-kill-two-billion-animals-annually-180977235/
Australian wildlife 20 times more likely to encounter deadly feral cats than native predators https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/06/australian-wildlife-20-times-more-likely-to-encounter-deadly-feral-cats-than-native-predators
Controlling Australia’s feral pests means using 1080 baits – or wildlife will suffer https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/11/controlling-australias-feral-pests-means-using-1080-baits-or-wildlife-will-suffer?CMP=share_btn_tw
1080 A Weighty Ethical Issue https://invasives.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1080-Weighty-Ethical-Issue.pdfLegalities for cats in WA
Cat act
Cat Act 2011- Cat Regulations
www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_28406.pdf/$FILE/Cat%20Regulations%202012%20-%20%5B01-00-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement
A guide for local governments - https://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/profiles/vincent/assets/agenda/2013/20130827/att/catacthandbookforlocalgovts.pdf
Cat Local Law Guidelines - https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/department/publications/publication/cat-local-law-guideline
Information about the Cat Act 2011- https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/local-government/community/cats-and-dogs/laws-for-responsible-cat-owners
Cat Local Law Guidelines- Can download the cat local law guidelines here. https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/department/publications/publication/cat-local-law-guideline
Albany regulations -Wandering Cat Management Policy -https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/documents/1555/wandering-cat-management-policy
Keeping Cats in Special Zones in The City of Albany - https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/services/building-planning/planning-services.aspx
Keeping cats healthy and happy contained
International cat care- https://icatcare.org/
Feline behavior solutions - https://felinebehaviorsolutions.com/
RSPCA safe happy cats - https://www.rspca.org.au/adopt-pet/adopting-catkitten/safe-and-happy-cats
Don’t let them out: 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy- https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716
Adaptation of domestic cats to confinement www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787807002274?casa_token=vLZRglQQDGYAAAAA:tvmxbGNJrJmeexRsTTYjnZ3SvDrWt-FdRXGO4ShoTevZoIrHO6XOei6xae_iPELLS7_2uPZHnUm
Environmental Enrichment: Practical Strategies for Improving Feline Welfare - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1016/j.jfms.2009.09.011
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The group has published an educational brochure:
Please feel free to print and distribute wherever an impact can be made. Click here to print |
For more information on keeping your cat healthy and happy at home follow the below links.
Cat owner education program http://www.southwestgroup.com.au/natural-resource-management/happyathome/
That's Cats video series https://www.tassiecat.com/videos
International cat care- https://icatcare.org/
Feline behavior solutions - https://felinebehaviorsolutions.com/
RSPCA safe happy cats - https://www.rspca.org.au/adopt-pet/adopting-catkitten/safe-and-happy-cats
Don’t let them out: 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy- https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716
Adaptation of domestic cats to confinement www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787807002274?casa_token=vLZRglQQDGYAAAAA:tvmxbGNJrJmeexRsTTYjnZ3SvDrWt-FdRXGO4ShoTevZoIrHO6XOei6xae_iPELLS7_2uPZHnUm
Cat owner education program http://www.southwestgroup.com.au/natural-resource-management/happyathome/
That's Cats video series https://www.tassiecat.com/videos
International cat care- https://icatcare.org/
Feline behavior solutions - https://felinebehaviorsolutions.com/
RSPCA safe happy cats - https://www.rspca.org.au/adopt-pet/adopting-catkitten/safe-and-happy-cats
Don’t let them out: 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy- https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716
Adaptation of domestic cats to confinement www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787807002274?casa_token=vLZRglQQDGYAAAAA:tvmxbGNJrJmeexRsTTYjnZ3SvDrWt-FdRXGO4ShoTevZoIrHO6XOei6xae_iPELLS7_2uPZHnUm
Page 1 For more information on why to keep your cat indoor for safety click on page 1
Page 2 - Protect your cat while protecting wildlife for more information on click on page 2
Page 3 Options for keeping cats safe at home. Click on page 3
Page 4- Not my cat- for studies on this click on Page 4
Page 5 - Keeping your cat entertained – For more information on keeping cats happy indoors, click on page 5 For information on legalities follow link https://www.vincent.wa.gov.au/profiles/vincent/assets/agenda/2013/20130827/att/catacthandbookforlocalgovts.pdf
Page 6 - Definitions on cats- for more information click on page 6
Page 7 for information on roaming cats click on page 7
Page 8 - For information on our funding body State NRM click on page. 8
We acknowledge the Minang and Koreng people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging and to the wider Noongar community.
Sponsors and Supporters
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