An estimated 18 million native animals and almost 4000 pet cats have been killed in the past five months, despite legislation capable of stopping the carnage sitting in Parliament limbo.
That is the claim of WA Feral Cat Working Group executive manager Dr Bruce Webber, who has slammed the State Government’s delayed review of the Cat Act, which was tabled in February this year.
Dr Webber said since the Cat Amendment Bill 2026 was tabled in Parliament on February 25, progress appears to have stopped and the delay is causing frustration for local governments wanting to implement cat containment laws and led to countless avoidable deaths.
“The death toll resulting from this inaction is shocking — for every week that the amendment is delayed, across Greater Perth one million animals are killed by roaming pet cats and 200 pet cats are killed in roaming-related incidents,” he said.
“Since the 25th of February 2026, and as of today, that means an estimated 18.1 million animals have been killed by roaming pet cats and 3700 pet cats are now dead from roaming-related incidents.”
A WA Government spokesperson said the State Government recognised the importance of responsible cat ownership and the need to protect Western Australia’s unique biodiversity, but could not provide an estimate on when the laws would pass through Parliament.
Dr Webber said the delay was unprecedented, however, as almost every political party in the State had shown support to amending the Act.
In 2025 the WAFCWG showed 78 per cent of local governments would also implement local laws for cat containment if there was a clear path to do so.
“The overwhelming majority of people now understand the science and all the robust evidence that shows us cat containment done well is better for pet cats, better for wildlife and better for people,” he said.
Dr Webber said continuing to allow pet cats to roam unrestricted only feeds into larger issues helping “top up” the population of feral cats, particularly in rural areas where there is far less separation between backyards and the bush.
South West NRM CEO Dr Manda Page said she had seen the impact cats could have on the native environment first hand in her 30 years of conservation work across Queensland and WA.
“I’ve seen a population of bilbies in Western Queensland almost completely wiped out due to predation from feral cats,” she said.
“In both States predation by feral cats has resulted in the need for significant and expensive interventions to save species at the brink of extinction.”
Dr Page said she had been at the forefront of protecting native wildlife from feral cats several times and seen success with various projects.
“South West NRM’s involvement in and support of Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions’ Felixer trials over several years is a great example of what can be achieved with a collaborative approach,” she said.
A DBCA spokesperson said the Felixer program aimed to conserve populations of threatened native species through effective, adaptive and humane actions working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and key stakeholders like the NRM.
“Predators are monitored using remote cameras across the Western Shield footprint of 4.7 million hectares to determine the success of the invasive predator management programs,” the spokesperson said.
Dr Page however, said this approach was just one of many that needed to take place in WA.
“Reducing the impact of feral cats on native wildlife demands a multi-faceted and collaborative approach between all levels of government, researchers, the environment and landcare sector and community,” she said.
Dr Page said the NRM was supportive of the State Government’s current Cat Amendment (Local Laws) Bill 2026 and advocates for responsible pet ownership and the use of catios for indoor pet cats as an alternative to free roaming outside the home.
“Evidence shows that unfortunately, wandering pet cats will also hunt outside the home and contribute to the impact of feral cats on populations of native animals,” she said.
“Cat owners can also prevent unwanted kittens and the creation of more feral cats by ensuring their pet is sterilised and microchipped by six months old as well as being registered with their local government.
“The responsibility for creating change is a shared one.”
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