It’s time for a National Cat Act

The Predator Free New Zealand Trust, animal welfare agencies and others have been advocating for a National Cat Act to set expectations on cat ownership and the management of stray and feral cats.

Cat being microchipped. — Microchips (the size of a grain of rice) are a critical identification tool. Image credit: Ivonne Wierink

The Environment Select Committee have released a report which supports the need to legislate a nationwide cat management framework for cats to be registered, desexed and microchipped.

The report notes, “Such a framework already exists for dogs, and we believe it is time to apply the same approach for cats. We consider that a nationally consistent approach to cat control would provide a more effective outcome than bylaws.”

NZ has the highest cat ownership in the world, with an average of 1.8 cats per household and estimates of several million feral cats. Our precious native taonga are particularly vulnerable to predation from cats.

With that in mind, please let our government know that this issue matters to us. We have a template email to send below; if you send this to your local MP, it will help spur the change that is needed to protect our native wildlife and reinforce responsible pet ownership.

The Predator Free New Zealand Trust adheres to our privacy policy and “we do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information.”

Updated in 2024, this letter is also sent to the Minister of Conservation, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Local Government.

I believe it’s time for a National Cat Act — what we’re currently doing isn’t working, and our native species are suffering. Cat legislation is currently a grey area making it hard for councils and others to manage cats. We need national guidelines to provide expectations on cat management and to ensure consistency of approach.

Animal welfare agencies, including the SPCA, Companion Animals New Zealand, Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa, conservation organisations like the Predator Free New Zealand Trust and Forest & Bird, and many government agencies, agree it is time for change. Aotearoa is ready for a legislative framework that is best for our wildlife and our pets.

As recommended in the Environment Select Committee report on the petition to ‘Mandate the registration and desexing of pet cats and kittens’, “We agree with the submitters it is time to legislate a nationwide cat management framework based on the notion cats should be registered, desexed, and microchipped with appropriate exemptions. Such a framework already exists for dogs, and we believe it is time to apply the same approach for cats. We consider that a nationally consistent approach to cat control would provide a more effective outcome than bylaws.”

Submitters emphasised the importance of responsible cat ownership, including: desexing cats before they can reproduce (as early as four months), microchipping cats, registering cats, regulating cat breeders and keeping cats safe and happy at home.

The issue is paramount and pressing; with clear legislation, we can see these matters managed more consistently and effectively at a local and regional level. Please raise this with your colleagues to ensure a National Cat Act is developed and adopted for the sake of our companion animals and our precious taonga.

Your name(Required)

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Let your MP know – what region are you in?(Required)

Select your Māori electorate

Select your Northland electorate

Select your Auckland electorate

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Select your Bay of Plenty electorate

Select your Gisborne / Hawkes Bay electorate

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Select your Wellington / Chatham Islands electorate

Select your Nelson / Tasman / Marlborough / West Coast electorate

Select your Canterbury electorate

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Are you a cat owner?(Required)

I am a current cat owner.

I am a former cat owner.

I am not a cat owner.

It’s time for a National Cat Act

Sign and send this letter to your local MPs to let them know that you support a National Cat Act.

It’s time for a National Cat Act

The Predator Free New Zealand Trust, animal welfare agencies and others have been advocating for a National Cat Act to set expectations on cat ownership and the management of stray and feral cats.

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