Auckland’s plan to go to war with feral cats

Auckland cat lovers would have to de-sex and microchip their pets if the council opts for stricter rules under a proposed environmental plan.

Residents are being asked for their views as Auckland Council investigates how to reduce the number of feral cats preying on native animals.

Carl Morgan, Regional Conservation Manager for the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, says cats should be desexed, microchipped and possibly kept at home to protect native wildlife from extinction.

Morgan says feral cats kill millions of birds every year.

This highlights the urgent need for Aucklanders to help shape a 10-year regional cat management plan to protect native wildlife, he says.

“They (Auckland Council) are advising on virtually every possible option.

“One is cat desexing or sterilization; which is essentially a rule that requires all domestic cats to be desexed,” he says.

“This would significantly reduce the population of feral and stray cats by preventing inter-household breeding and preventing domesticated cats from breeding with feral cats.

“This will put an end to the creation of unwanted kittens everywhere, which will grow into predators impacting our native wildlife.”

Another important proposal is that all cats and pets must be microchipped and registered.

“If cats go missing or are found by others, they can be taken to veterinary centers or the SPCA where they can be identified and rehomed, or their owners can be contacted.”

While traps for stray and feral cats are being rolled out, domestic cats are sometimes caught.

“These traps are usually placed in areas of high biodiversity value, where there are many native birds and people carry out predator control work against possums, rats, stoats and other predators.

“If a cat is microchipped, it can be scanned and released.”

The Far North will also debate changes in animal regulations, with a proposed regulation that would require all cats over four months to be both microchipped and desexed.

The new rules, if adopted, would be the district’s first animal regulations since 2019, when the previous ordinance expired.

As a result, pet management has become increasingly challenging, especially for cats, which are not covered by current regulations.

Although the Far North regulation would regulate desexing, there would be no limit on the number of cats per household.

The ordinance also proposes restrictions on other animals, including a ban on roosters and pigs in urban areas.

Morgan says Auckland’s controversial proposal, which is under consultation and would not come into effect until 2030, would keep cats indoors.

“It would be quite an adjustment for many cat owners,” he says.

“This would be the first time in the country that such a rule would be introduced. Cats would have to be kept within their owners’ properties, probably indoors, which would be a significant change to the way cats are currently kept.

Keeping cats indoors prevents them from raiding nesting areas for birds, says Morgan.

“All it takes is for your cat to climb that tree, eat the chicks or disturb the nest in one night, and it’s all over.”

Dr. Imogen Bassett, head of Natural Environment Specialist Services at Auckland Council, says they are focusing on understanding Aucklanders’ views on dealing with cats.

“We know there is great concern about the impact of both owned and non-owned cats on wildlife,” she says.

“We also recognize that responsible pet ownership, such as desexing, can help protect nature. It’s a win-win.”

Bassett says the council is working with the SPCA to provide free microchipping, registration and desexing services for cats in areas with vulnerable species, such as dots.

‘We know that cost is a barrier to de-sexing, so we are exploring options for additional support in at-risk communities or a regulatory approach to encourage responsible ownership.

“Unowned cats may hunt more due to a lack of food, but even well-fed cats still hunt. Because there are more owned cats than unowned cats, the combined effect on native wildlife is significant. Responsible ownership is key to reducing this impact.”

In Auckland, 35 percent of households own cats, leaving an estimated 320,000 cats in the region.

“We are a nation of cat lovers and they bring many wonderful things into our lives. We also know that they have a real impact on our native wildlife, which is found nowhere else in the world.”

Councilor Richard Hills, from the Policy and Planning Committee, is urging Aucklanders to have their say in the ‘Let’s Protect Our Environment’ consultation, which closes on December 8.

“The consultation will ask what we can do to continue to protect what Aucklanders value, such as our native species and ecosystems, Māori cultural values, rural primary production and the safety and wellbeing of our communities and natural habitats .”

For more information about the consultation: akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/protect-our-environment

LDR is local journalism, co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.