Domestic Cat Monitoring and Awareness in Alice Springs
This project is no longer active, but remains available as a resource for interested cat owners and the wider community.

About the Project
Land for Wildlife Central Australia conducted a monitoring project on domestic cats in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Using GPS trackers, collar-mounted video cameras, and scat analysis, the aim was to better understand cat behaviour, roaming patterns, and potential impacts on local wildlife.

The project also included surveys with cat owners before and after the monitoring to explore attitudes and support informed decision-making around pet cat management.

Project Goals

  • Highlight the roaming behaviour and habits of pet cats

  • Promote responsible pet ownership

  • Encourage practices that reduce risks to native wildlife and cats themselves

  • Provide tools and knowledge to help cat owners make informed choices

Cat Tracking
GPS units were fitted to domestic cats to map their movements away from home. The data revealed that many cats roamed much further than their owners expected, sparking community conversations about responsible cat ownership.

Read more: Cat Tracking

Video Surveillance
Some cats were fitted with lightweight Eyenimal video cameras to record their activity. This gave a glimpse into roaming behaviour, including walking, stalking, sleeping, and feeding.

Contact us to Watch footage of TeeGee the cat in action.

Read more: Cat Surveillance

Scat Analysis
Scat samples were collected from participating cats to identify what they had been eating while away from home. Wildlife remains found in scats- such as bones or fur- helped to highlight the ecological impact of roaming pets.

Why Responsible Cat Management Matters
Roaming domestic cats can have a range of negative impacts:

  • Wildlife predation- native species may be hunted or displaced

  • Neighbourhood issues- cats may spray, fight, yowl, or disturb other pets

  • Health risks- roaming cats face disease transmission and injury

  • Legal issues- under Alice Springs by-laws, cats found off their property can be impounded

  • Contribution to feral population- uncontained or un-desexed cats can breed with feral cats or become lost and feral themselves

Tips for Responsible Cat Ownership

  • Desex your cat to reduce breeding and roaming behaviours

  • Microchip and register your cat with Alice Springs Town Council

  • Keep your cat indoors or in an enclosed outdoor area

  • Install a cat run or play area for safe outdoor stimulation

  • Use toys and activities to reduce boredom and keep cats mentally active

  • Fit a bell, scrunchie, or sonar device to alert wildlife

  • Feed your cat well so it’s less inclined to hunt- consult your vet before changing feeding routines

  • Never release unwanted cats into the bush

Want to Know More?
Although the project is no longer running, the information remains available to support awareness and education.

If you have questions, or would like access to the monitoring data or project reports, please contact:
lfw@lowecol.com.au or call 08 89 555 222

Project Background
The Domestic Cat Monitoring and Awareness in Alice Springs project was supported by Territory Natural Resource Management, with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
It was conducted with approval from the Charles Darwin University Animal Ethics Committee (Project 16019).