The City of Stirling has been controlling stray and feral cats since 2010 through trapping programs and partnerships with other agencies. Over the past four years, the success rate of control activities has tripled due to increased funding and new technologies. Challenges include potential community opposition, lack of funding/resources, and cross-border migration of cats. The strategies discussed include utilizing wildlife cameras, maintaining databases, coordinating with stakeholders, and facilitating resources from universities, community groups, and other organizations.

1. Cat Control in the City of Stirling
Jo Taylor
Conservation Officer

2. A Brief Overview
The City of Stirling Natural Areas began to control stray and
feral cats in 2010. Current funding approximately $10,000 pa.
In the last four years, success rate has tripled due to increased
funding and use of new technology and strategic initiatives.
Programs run in conjunction with other agencies such as the
DPAW, Water Corp., WAPC, Channel Nine & Ten, and border
councils where common boundaries are shared.
Internal and external stakeholders play a major role in helping
to ensure control activities are successful.

3. Impacts of Feral and Stray Cats
• Loss of native wildlife
• Loss of human amenities
• Spread of diseases (e.g. Dieback,
Giardiasis, Toxoplasmosis)
• Increased management costs

4. Challenges in Cat Control
• Community: potential opposition to cat control
and unaware of cat impacts
• Lack of funding and resources
• Lack of knowledge for alliances and training
• Cross border migration
• Eliminating breeding grounds (e.g. transfer
stations & commercial bins)
• Managing numerous large reserves

5. City of Stirling Reserves

6. Strategies
Work smarter not harder!
•Invest in wildlife monitoring cameras

7. Strategies Cont.
•Establish communication with internal stakeholders;
request pro-active feedback and reporting.
•Monitor success of program and revise as needed.
Why is this important?
Examples: Cat Haven and CoS Transfer Station

8. Strategies Cont.
•Maintain a database of cat trapping program
Date Site Name
No.
Captured
Feral Stray
Microchip/
Collar
Action
Owner
Details
Notes
14-Mar Lake Gwelup 3 1 2
R12345-
678
Taken to Cat
Haven
R. Smith,
2 Pia Ln,
Gwelup
Recapture
x 2
10-Jul
Richard
Guelfi
3 3 Euthanaised
11-Jul
CoS Transfer
Station
15 15 Euthanaised
6 pregnant
w/ 4-7
fetus each
01-Sep
Celebration
Park
1 1 Euthanaised

9. Strategies Cont.
Maintain a complaint register to identify problem areas
Date Name Contact Details Site Details Notes
17-Jul-16
Sarah
Marconi
1 Bay Ct, Dianella
Mob: 0401 911 718
Dianella ROS drain
across from 4 Bay
Ct., Dianella
4 cats living in drain; hisses when she
approaches them. Entering adjacent
bushland and concerned eating birds.
20-Aug-16
Peter
Stiles
pstiles@gmail.com
Celebration Park
Bushland
7 cats roaming in bushland and streets.
Disturbing neighbours all night yowling.
01-Sep-16 Mrs. Kell
9 Egret Cir,
Princeton Estate
Stirling
Princeton Estate
Wetland
Neighbour's 2 cats (10 Egret Cir.) killing
frogs in wetland & pooping in her kids
sandbox.

10. Strategies Cont.
• Ensure community knows who to contact
• Community education: workshops, flyers, media
• Specific website page to inform residents

11. Strategies Cont.
• Assistance: Cat Haven, Rangers, Universities, Tafe
• Encourage private land holders to trap stray cats
• Joint approach

12. Case Study: Cottonwood Crescent Reserve
•High numbers of foxes and cats invading from
land owned by Water Corp, DPaW & Channel 10
•Formed alliance with all stake holders to engage
in joint trapping. CoS coordinated contractor
•Timing of control activities are coordinated with
all stakeholders sharing costs.

13. Strategies Cont.
If you try to do everything yourself, you will fail!
•Your primary role is to facilitate, coordinate,
liaise, train and educate.
•Utilise available resources: Universities, Tafe,
Community Groups, Volunteers, DPaW, Private
Land Owners, Internal Stakeholders, and other
Local Government Authorities.

14. Resource Strategies
•Uni. and Tafe students – Research, install &
monitor cameras, data collection, maintain
databases, develop/distribute education material.
• Data/ information – Cat Haven, private land
owners, DPaW, universities internal stakeholders,
(e.g. rangers, health dept.)

15. •Education and materials – DPaW, WALGA,
Invasive Animals CRC, Cat Haven, Australian
Government, WA Government, Australian
Wildlife Conservancy, other Local Governments.
Resource Strategies

16. •Trapping & Equipment – Internal stakeholders,
community groups, Uni./Tafe students, private
land owners, DPaW, volunteers
Resource Strategies

17. More Information
Invasive Animals CRC
http://www.invasiveanimals.com/
Department of Agriculture
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pests-weeds-diseases/pests/pest-
animals
Jo Taylor – City of Stirling
Jo.Taylor@stirling.wa.gov.au
DPaW
http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/pests-
diseases/westernshield/189-managing-the-threats?showall=1
Australian Government
https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publicat
ions/factsheet-tackling-feral-cats