A Perth woman whose beloved cat was sent to landfill after it was found dead on the road has pushed her local council to treat dead pets with more sensitivity in the future.

Siobhan Taylor's cat Bailey was missing for three days before she discovered his body had been disposed of by council.

Ms Taylor told ABC Radio Perth that she let Bailey out on the evening of June 12, expecting him to return in a few minutes.

But he never came home.

"I was up until 4:30 in the morning calling him and I knew that something must have happened," she said.

'I thought there was some sort of mistake'

Several days later, after many calls to the City of Melville council, Ms Taylor learned that Bailey had been killed by a passing car outside her house and that council waste management staff had sent his body to landfill.

"A number of early-morning walkers had seen Bailey by the side of the road and called the ranger," she said.

"But whoever took those calls at the council contacted waste management instead.

"I only found that out three days later.

"I honestly thought that there was some sort of mistake. I did not think the council would do that."

In response to Ms Taylor's complaints, the council has since changed its policy.

In a statement, chief executive Shayne Silcox apologised for Ms Taylor's distress and said the council would send rangers to respond to calls about deceased animals on roads and verges in future.

"A ranger will attend the site and if possible will scan the animal for a microchip and check for a collar and tags, using the information to make contact with the animal's owner," Mr Silcox said.

"The ranger will also take a photograph of the animal for future reference.

"At their discretion and according to the condition of the animal, the ranger will decide if the body of the animal can be returned to the owner or if it is a biohazardous risk.

"Where a body can be returned, it must be collected within two hours of first contacting the owner, after which time the body will have to be disposed of."

Policy changes don't go far enough

Ms Taylor said she was pleased the council would no longer send waste management staff but argued two hours to collect a pet's body was not enough.

"That's not practical. Some people work miles away, they could be on holiday," she said.

She suggested they should be taken to a local vet clinic, where a pet's body can be held for up to three days.

"It's bad enough to lose your pet, but to not be able to say goodbye and have them cremated is awful," Ms Taylor said.

"He's vanished; it's like he has been kidnapped and it's just the worst feeling."