NEW BYLAW PROPOSES MANDATORY “CHIPPING & SNIPPING” FOR CATS IN NEW ZEALAND WHICH COULD PROTECT NATIVE BIRDS

The Far North District of New Zealand (situated in, you guessed it, the far north of the country) is set to debate a significant change in animal regulations, with a proposed bylaw that would require all cats over the age of four months to be both microchipped and desexed.

The new rules, if adopted, would be the first animal regulations in the district since 2019, when the previous bylaw lapsed. As a result, pet management has become an increasing challenge, especially for cats, which are not covered by any current regulations. While the bylaw would regulate desexing, there would be no limit on the number of cats per household. The bylaw also proposes restrictions on other animals, including bans on roosters and pigs in urban areas.

Where do feral cats fit into societies, particularly in island nations like New Zealand or Australia, where growing populations pose a threat to native wildlife?

While house cats are widely adored in New Zealand, a country with a population of just 5.2 million, there are an estimated 2.4 million feral cats. In this context, proposed new bylaws—such as preventative measures rather than reactive ones like hunting competitions—could be the way forward. These measures might offer a chance for both feral cats and the public to find a balance and work together for the protection of native species.

The issue of feral cats has been a tense topic for many years between animal lovers and authorities globally, due to the impact they have on other wildlife. In New Zealand, one such species threatened by feral cats (but not limited to) is the kiwi, the country’s currently endangered national bird. Kiwi birds have an estimated population of 68,000, which is decreasing by 2% each year – roughly 20 kiwis per week.

A Gap in Pet Management

The expiration of the previous bylaw in 2019 created a regulatory gap, leaving the district without formal control over pet populations, except for dogs, which are governed by a separate bylaw. This lack of regulation has made it challenging for the Far North District Council to address residents’ complaints about nuisance or stray animals. Meanwhile, animal welfare organizations have been overwhelmed by the issues stemming from the uncontrolled breeding of stray cats.

Under the proposed new bylaw, the council would gain tools to manage not only the behavior of pet owners but also the environmental and community impacts of unregulated animal populations.

Key Provisions for Cats

A key feature of the proposed bylaw is the “chipping and snipping” requirement for cats over four months old. This measure aims to address the growing problem of stray and unowned cats in the Far North District, where the mild climate allows for near year-round breeding.

Local animal rescues, such as Coast to Coast Cat Rescue in Kerikeri, are overwhelmed with kittens and stray cats. Since 2021, the rescue has taken in nearly 2,100 cats and kittens. Sam Stewart, the founder of the organization, notes that very few of these animals arrived microchipped or desexed, with many either being strays or abandoned by their previous owners.

Microchipping and desexing are seen as crucial steps in both managing the cat population and ensuring the animals’ welfare. Microchipping provides a permanent form of identification, increasing the chances that lost or stray cats can be returned to their owners and reducing the number of unidentified strays ending up in rescues. Desexing helps reduce unwanted litters and inhumane treatment of them, which is especially important in regions where mild climates make for long breeding seasons.

Exceptions would be made for registered breeding cats or if a veterinarian certifies that desexing would be harmful to the cat’s health. In addition to microchipping and desexing, the bylaw leaves out a cap on the number of cats per household, under the reasoning that cat hoarding only becomes a problem if the animals are not managed responsibly.

Protecting Native Bird Populations

One of the primary motivations for this bylaw is the urgent need to protect New Zealand’s native wildlife from the impact of stray and feral cats. As natural predators, cats—whether domesticated or wild—pose a significant threat to the country’s unique bird species. With several species already endangered, the predation by cats adds immense pressure to these vulnerable populations. Birds like the tūī, kākā, fantail, and the iconic kiwi are among those at risk, as they often roam or nest in areas frequented by cats. Even well-fed domestic cats retain a strong hunting instinct, which can negatively affect native bird numbers, particularly in regions like the Far North, where many bird species are ground-dwelling and more vulnerable to predation.

Cats have been introduced to an environment where native species evolved without land-based mammalian predators, making them especially vulnerable. For example, the kiwi bird is flightless and nocturnal, aligning their wake time with the feral cat population. One of their main adapted defenses is ‘freezing’, which isn’t fine against predatory birds who use sight to hunt, but not so helpful against cats, who use scent.

The bylaw’s focus on desexing and managing stray cats could reduce these risks, helping to create safer environments for New Zealand’s birds and supporting broader conservation efforts.

Community Impact and Moving Toward Responsible Pet Ownership

Those proposing the bylaw hope it will be a turning point and have a lasting positive impact on pet ownership behaviors in the Far North region, aiming to educate and encourage responsible pet ownership. By requiring basic steps like microchipping and desexing, the bylaw could help reduce the number of stray and unwanted animals and lead a cultural shift in how pets are managed.

The bylaw proposal excludes the need for a limit on the number of cats per household, as long as they are desexed, microchipped, and cared for responsibly (responsible care being the key phrase). Hoarding situations only become an issue when the number of animals a person keeps exceeds their ability to care for them responsibly, so those would still be addressed by the SPCA, mental health services, or council inspectors.

Consultation and Next Steps

The public has until November 18 to submit their views on the bylaw, with consultation open since September. If passed, the Far North District would join other districts in the country in enforcing compulsory microchipping and desexing to reduce cat overpopulation and its impacts.