That's the message from the Macleay Landcare Network and Hastings Landcare on how to reduce the impact of cats on our native wildlife.

Landcare will be hosting public workshops in Kempsey and Wauchope to highlight the impact of feral cats on native wildlife, and to advise residents on what they can do to manage unwanted feral and domestic cats.

The first workshop will be on Tuesday the May 7 at Settlers Way, South Kempsey, from 10am to 1pm.

To register for the free workshop contact the Macleay Landcare Network Office on phone 6562 2076, or email office.macleaylandcare@gmail.com.

Guest speakers at the workshop will include local wildlife expert Bernard Whitehead, and representatives from Kempsey Shire Council, Local Land Services, and Landcare.

Participants will also get to see a Land for Wildlife property where the workshop is being held.

Land for Wildlife property owners Graeme and Tess Carrad were keen to host the Kempsey workshop to assist them with advice on how to protect their native wildlife.

"We wanted to know what to do about feral cats and other unwanted predators on our property, and to find out what support is available to help us," Graeme said.

Feral cats have been ranked to pose the greatest threat to Australia's native mammals.

The level of threat they pose is considered to be more than double that of red foxes, and triple that of the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation.

They have contributed to the extinction of at least 28 mammal species since they first arrived in Australia, and they continue to wreak havoc to around a third of our threatened mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds.

Feral cats are likely to feed on a wide variety of Australian native wildlife including 120 bird species, 156 reptiles, 58 marsupials, 24 rodents, 21 frogs, and five bats.

At least 120 of these species occur on the NSW North Coast region and include known threatened species.

Evidence suggests that domestic cats also kill Australian native wildlife, even when adequately feed and de-sexed. The best strategy to reduce this impact is to confine your domestic cat to their yard or a suitable enclosed space. If they do escape microchipping will assist Council Rangers identify your companion animal and ensure their safe return.

This project is supported by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Landcare NSW Incorporated through funding received from the Established Pest Animals and Weeds initiative, part of the Australian Government's Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government's plan for stronger farmers and a stronger economy.

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