I am writing to express my strong support for the Domestic Cat Microchipping Bill (the Bill), which Celia Wade-Brown and Barbara Kuriger recently introduced into the biscuit tin.

The Bill mandates compulsory microchipping and registration for owned cats in Aotearoa New Zealand, an essential step toward responsible pet ownership and safeguarding our unique biodiversity.

I strongly encourage you to support the Bill so it can bypass the ballot and be introduced to the House sooner.

Cats pose a significant threat to native species, including birds, bugs, bats, and lizards. They also impact primary production and human health as the definitive vector for Toxoplasmosis.

With millions of domestic and feral cats in New Zealand, effective management strategies are essential, and microchipping will help distinguish between owned and unowned cats.

Research shows that most New Zealanders strongly support responsible pet ownership practices such as microchipping (66% support) and desexing (74% support).

I believe introducing this Bill is critical for advancing New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 goals and ensuring that we manage our cat populations in a way that benefits both domestic animals and our environment.

I urge you to support this legislation as it represents a vital step toward responsible cat ownership and protecting our precious wildlife for future generations.

I also believe there is an opportunity to strengthen the Bill’s impact by adding measures for comprehensive cat management, including compulsory desexing and provisions for councils to consult with their communities to establish no-cat-roaming zones. By advocating for this, you can help the Bill achieve its full potential.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.