The Cat Island wetlands IBA is a mixture of crown and privately-owned land, which comprises a number of habitats inclusive of freshwater and saltwater wetlands, tidal flats, beach and adjacent broadleaf coppice.

There are a number of settlements along the western shore of the island. This IBA includes Mt. Alvernia, the highest point in The Bahamas.

This IBA supports a variety of bird species inclusive of the following: 

• Vulnerable West Indian Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arborea.
• Laughing Gull Larus atricilla
• Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica
• Least Tern Sterna antillarum
• Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
• Bahama Woodstar Calliphlox evelynae
• Bahama Yellowthroat Geothlypis rostrata
• Thick-billed Vireo Vireo crassirostris
• Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii

Species can be seen throughout the day. However, higher concentrations of bird species can be seen during the morning hours or late afternoon.

A paved road runs the length of the island, with a series of dirt roads crossing the island to the ocean side (locally called the “north shore”). Therefore, the area can be accessed by vehicular transportation. Persons with mobility impairments should have no difficulty moving around within the settlements.