FAR NORTH CAT OWNERS WILL HAVE TO MICROCHIP AND DESEX THEIR PETS UNDER PLANNED BYLAW

Far North cat owners will soon be required to microchip and desex their pets under a new animal control bylaw introduced by the Far North District Council.

On Thursday, the council voted to adopt this new bylaw after the previous one lapsed in 2019 due to a failure to vote in a new regulation.

The updated bylaw includes a new section specifically addressing the keeping of cats, a first for the council. Staff anticipate that this addition may “generate considerable interest and could divide community opinion.”

Coast to Coast Cat Rescue, a Far North organization that has taken in over 2,000 cats in the past three years, has welcomed the new bylaw. They believe it will mark the beginning of significant changes in the way pet cats are managed, influencing behavior, culture, and pet ownership practices.

According to a report presented at the meeting, the bylaw is expected to affect the social, economic, environmental, or cultural well-being of the district, impacting specific areas or communities within it.

The Far North District Council joins several local bodies across New Zealand in implementing specific cat bylaws.

Whangārei District Council is one of eight local authorities that have introduced regulations requiring cat owners to microchip, register, and/or desex their pets. This initiative is part of a broader effort to prevent cats from roaming and disrupting the environment.

Whangārei’s bylaws, which took effect in mid-2022, mandate that all pet cats in the district be microchipped and desexed.

Following the Far North councillors’ approval of the new bylaw, it will be open for public consultation from September 23 to November 18.

The new bylaw includes a section on the keeping of cats, which stipulates that:

• Any cat over the age of 4 months must be microchipped, with the microchip registered with the NZ Companion Animal Register.
• Any cat over 4 months must be desexed, except if the cat is kept for breeding purposes and is registered with a nationally recognized breeders’ body, or if the owner provides a veterinarian’s certificate indicating that desexing would negatively impact the cat’s health or welfare.

Councillor Ann Court, who proposed the motion, acknowledged that the cat-related provisions of the bylaw are likely to be controversial and advised the council to brace for potential opposition.

Coast to Coast Cat Rescue, based in Kerikeri, has welcomed the new bylaw, which trust chairwoman Sam Stewart believes will address the cat overpopulation issue in the Far North.

“Since we began our work in April 2021, we’ve cared for a total of 2,056 cats and kittens, nearly all of which were not desexed. Many of these cats were likely previously owned—either lost, strayed, or unwanted kittens from owned or stray cats,” Stewart explained.

“While there are many benefits to cat ownership, we must also recognize the problems caused by cat overpopulation and feral cats,” she added. These issues include nuisance behaviors such as fighting, running across roads, entering homes and stealing food, spraying, uncontrolled breeding resulting in unwanted kittens, and public health concerns like toileting in gardens and sandpits, rummaging through rubbish, predation of wildlife, and the financial and emotional strain on those trying to rehome unwanted kittens. Additionally, there is an increased burden on rescue organizations.

Stewart highlighted that uncontrolled cat breeding poses health risks through the transmission of zoonotic diseases like ringworm, flea infestations, toxoplasmosis, gastrointestinal infections, and infections from cat bites and scratches.

She believes that compulsory desexing will help slow the growth of the cat population. “Compulsory microchipping will provide each cat with an individual identifying number, and mandatory registration will link the cat to its owner,” Stewart said. “This bylaw will initiate a cultural shift in how we manage and care for our pet cats.”

Stewart views the bylaw as the start of a transformative change in cat ownership practices. She also commended the council for not imposing a limit on the number of cats a person can own, noting that the real issue arises when individuals hoard cats and can no longer care for them properly. In such cases, a collaborative approach involving the SPCA, mental health services, and the council’s health and safety department becomes necessary.

Stewart said that by introducing the bylaw the council is giving a strong message to the community that they support responsible cat ownership, value our environment, want to protect our unique biodiversity, and care about the residents of the Far North.

Other councils with cat bylaws already in place include Palmerston North, Whanganui, Hutt City, Ruapehu, Wellington City, Selwyn District Council, Manawatū, Buller, while councils currently in consultation include Tasman District, Waikato, and Nelson.