What You Need To Know About NZ’s Changing Cat Bylaws

Did you know that eight of New Zealand’s cities or districts require that you either microchip, register and/or desex your cat? These cat bylaws are part of a wider effort to stop our feline friends from roaming and causing havoc on the environment.

The cat bylaws are sure to become the norm in New Zealand as we become more aware of the impact of pets on nature – so it’s good to get clued up on them now. In this article, we look at why these bylaws exist, which regions have them, and share some of the benefits of owning an indoor cat.

Why are there cat ownerships bylaws in New Zealand?

Cats are wonderful creatures and important members of the family for many of us. In fact, 41% of Kiwi households have a cat, making them the most popular companion animal in the country.

But our beloved felines unfortunately have quite a negative impact on our native wildlife and environment. This means local districts have needed to bring in cat bylaws to microchip, register, desex or otherwise contain cats. Here’s why:

Wildlife and cat ownership bylaws

Cats are prolific hunters. You only have to look at how cats are built and read about their amazing eyes in our article on colours cats can see to realise your cat is a finely-tuned hunter. 

There are around 1.2 – 1.4 million domestic cats in Aotearoa. Estimates suggest that they kill at least 18.76 million animals a year, including over 1.1 million native birds. Yikes …

Cats aren’t native to New Zealand. This means our indigenous animals, especially ground-dwelling birds, haven’t evolved defences to protect them against cats. There’s also the issue of disease. Cats carry diseases that wild animals can’t fight off – and this further impacts their populations. It’s a big reason why there are such strict laws about bringing pets into nature reserves.

Overpopulation and cat ownership bylaws

Then there’s the issue of overpopulation. On top of NZ’s domestic cat population, we have almost 200, 000 stray cats. These animals put huge pressure on our overpopulated shelters (read our article “NZ Shelters Speak Out About Abandoned Pets on the Rise” for more on this). If they haven’t been spayed or neutered (also called desexed), they mate and lead to more unwanted kitten litters.

And we haven’t even mentioned feral cats. There are an estimated 2.5 million feral cats roaming New Zealand. Stray cats are domestic cats that have been lost or abandoned and have become accustomed to living outdoors. Feral cats are domestic cats that have reverted to a wild state. They’re usually born in the wild and have had little to no interaction with humans, making them essentially wild animals.

Stray and feral cats are due to unscrupulous breeding and unwanted cats ending up abandoned. It’s also from people not desexing their domestic cats.

In an effort to minimise these problems, more and more districts:

• Require that your microchip and register your cat. This makes it easier to return lost cats to their owners, which minimises the time they have to kill wildlife or mate.
• Desexed by a certain age so that they can’t produce unwanted litters. Cat desexing can have other benefits, too – such as reducing the risk of certain cancers and prolonging their life.

Cat ownership bylaws by region

So, are there any cat bylaws where you live? The following regions have cat bylaws in place, with three districts (Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council and Buller District Council) actively considering similar bylaws in the near future.

*Registered cat breeders or those with a medical exemption from a vet don‘t have to desex their cats.

A case for indoor cats

Cat ownership bylaws like these listed above will slowly but surely become the norm across New Zealand. Even if you don’t need to microchip, register or desex your cat by law, it may be worthwhile doing!

There are also measures you can take to stop your cat from wandering – like making yours an indoor cat. This not only protects wildlife but keeps them safe from things like car accidents, dogs, other cats and diseases like the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

And remember that having an indoor cat still requires that they get fresh air and exercise. You can do this with a catio or by training them to walk on a leash. Indoor cats can have fulfilling, balanced and healthy lives, just like outdoor cats. And you have the added bonus of knowing you’re doing your part for Kiwi wildlife.

Be sure to check out our article Is Pet Insurance Worth it for Your Indoor Cat – Yay or Nay? for insights on insuring your indoor pet.

More useful resources

Responsible pet parenting is about more than cat ownership bylaws. Here are more must-read resources on being a pawsome pet parent:

• Tips and Tricks to Stop Your Cat Catching Birds
• Become Wildlife Wise: Top Tips and a Quiz
• Conservation Week NZ: How Dog Parents Can Help
• Desexing Your Dog: Yay Or Nay?

Award winning cat insurance for your meow

Even if there aren’t cat ownership bylaws in your region, microchipping, registering and desexing your cat can be worthwhile doing. Another consideration for your cat is getting cat insurance.

This can give you and your pet a soft landing in the case of an accident or illness – helping you cover their unexpected vet bills without stress, depending on the level of cover you choose.

PD Insurance offers value-rich, flexible, month-to-month cat insurance plans to keep you covered. And if you buy your pet pawlicy online with us, you can also get one or more months for free! Why not take 2 minutes to get a quote? Click below to start today.