Kereru © James Allan
3rd December 2024
Supporting Responsible Cat Ownership for a Better Future:
At the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust, we believe in responsible cat ownership, ensuring that companion cats live safe, healthy lives with their guardians. We recognize the strong bond between people and pets and support responsible cat lovers in our community. We acknowledge the efforts that local cat rescues are making to bring cats in from the cold. However, we also acknowledge the serious impact that cats can have on New Zealand’s native wildlife.
The Cat Problem
New Zealand has over 1.2 million pet cats, but only half are microchipped. Feral cats are widespread across the country, including in sensitive biodiversity areas in the Whakatipu. Feral cats are predators with no natural controls, and their impact on native wildlife is devastating. Research shows that even well-fed pet cats kill many animals, often without their owners being aware.
Additionally, cats can transmit diseases like toxoplasmosis, which affects both wildlife and livestock, and poses a risk to human health. Managing both pet and feral cat populations is crucial for protecting New Zealand’s biodiversity and the welfare of companion cats.
Rescue agencies around the nation are grappling with too many unwanted cats and kittens coming into their care. The high cost of living is leading to an increasing amount of people being unable to continue to care for their pets, and adoption rates are falling. With an estimated over 2.5 million feral cats in New Zealand, the scale of the feral cat issue means catching and rehoming of all feral cats is unrealistic and unachievable. The reality is, to protect our native biodiversity, feral cats will need to be managed by humane, lethal means by experienced operators.
The Biodiversity Crisis
New Zealand’s native species evolved without land-based predators, so they have no defenses against predators like cats. Cats prey on birds, insects, lizards, and bats, contributing to the extinction of species like the Stephens Island wren and threatening others, including kea. In the Whakatipu, feral cats are a significant problem, with trapping efforts showing significant populations that could impact native wildlife, including the endangered takahē which are being re-released into the valleys around Glenorchy and threatened braided river birds such as black-fronted terns, banded dotterels and black-billed gulls nesting in areas like Tucker Beach.
The Predator Free 2050 vision is focused on eliminating invasive pests like rats, possums and stoats, but feral cats remain a threat to this goal. Feral cats are under consideration to be added into the PF2050 mission at its next review. New technology is being developed to target feral cats, and traps are being developed that deactivate in the presence of microchipped animals. This highlights the need for local action on responsible cat ownership, in particular microchipping. It is crucial that there is a method to differentiate pet cats from stray and feral cats.
Our Recommendations
We advocate for a local Cat Management bylaw in the Queenstown Lakes District (QLDC) that includes compulsory desexing and microchipping of all pet cats. These measures would help reduce the stray cat population, improve cat welfare, and support our broader biodiversity efforts.
Key Proposals:
Next Steps
Recent surveys show that the majority of New Zealanders support compulsory desexing and microchipping for pet cats. Many councils are already implementing these measures, and we believe QLDC should follow suit. The government is sadly not taking any action on a National Cat Act in this term, so it is up to local councils to lead on this.
The Whakatipu Wildlife Trust has begun discussions with QLDC and local stakeholders to explore the introduction of a Cat Management bylaw. We are encouraging QLDC to form a working group to assess local cat issues, consult the community, and take action.
By addressing the cat issue locally, we can protect our native wildlife, improve the welfare of companion cats, and contribute to the success of Predator Free 2050.
Together, we can ensure a better future for both pet cats and the incredible biodiversity that makes New Zealand unique. Let’s work together to keep our cats safe and our native wildlife protected.
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