Responsible cat guardianship

Responsible cat guardianship

Cats are valued members of many families in New Zealand. Research shows that animal companionship can improve people’s health and wellbeing.

However, cats can have a detrimental impact on native and non-native wildlife. Cats in New Zealand have contributed to the extinction and decline in birds, lizards and invertebrates. Stray and feral cats often suffer as they become sick or injured and have no access to veterinary care. Cats can also cause nuisance in communities and spread diseases such as toxoplasmosis (to sheep, people and other species), ringworm and some parasites (e.g. hookworm that can cause skin irritation, eye-sight loss and organ disease).

We encourage people responsible for a companion cat to keep their cat safe and happy at home and to desex and microchip their cat.

Three main categories of cat are recognised nationally and by the Dunedin City Council.

• Companion cats

  Companion cats have a home and rely on people to meet their physical, health and behavioural needs. There are about 1.2 million companion cats in 35% of households across New Zealand. Most companion cats are desexed and the majority are microchipped.

• Stray cats

  Stray cats live in and around communities and depend on food and resources supplied directly and unintentionally by people. They may or may not be friendly/socialised to people and some, but not all, have an identifiable carer. Stray cats may be born stray, be lost or abandoned companion cats, or be unwanted kittens from companion cats.

• Feral cats

  Feral cats live in the wild and are self-sustaining; they don’t rely on people for their needs.

  For more information on feral cats see Department of Conservation - feral cats (new window).

• Do I have to desex and microchip my cat?

  We recommend companion cats are desexed and microchipped, with the microchip registered on a national database. This is the best option to help bring your lost cat home and reduces the number of unwanted kittens born each year.

• Why should my cat be desexed?

  Desexing helps reduce young cats being repeatedly pregnant which can affect their health. Desexing reduces litter numbers which helps reduce problems with overpopulation.

  A female cat can become pregnant as young as three months of age. On average, a cat can have 1-2 litters of kittens each year with an average number of four kittens surviving. This leads to many unwanted kittens being born each year and contributes to overpopulation of cats and kittens who are at risk of becoming sick or injured with variable access to veterinary care.

• What is microchipping?

  Microchipping is a permanent, harm-free method of identifying a cat because the chip cannot be removed, dislodged or lost without surgical intervention. A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is inserted under a cat’s skin by a veterinarian. Each microchip has a unique numerical code that can be read by an electronic scanner. The numerical code is linked to the owner’s contact information and can be accessed when the microchip is registered on a national database such as the New Zealand Companion Animal Register. It’s important that cat owners keep their contact information up to date.

  If lost, injured, or stolen, a cat with a registered microchip is more likely to be reunited with their family, meaning cats get home quickly and get access to the care they may need. This especially applies during emergencies such as earthquakes and floods. Registered microchips also help avoid a stay at a shelter as owners can be contacted immediately.

  In areas where cats are targets of pest control, or where they’re a nuisance, microchips can help identify that a cat has a home.

  Additional benefits include a microchip activated cat door that stops other cats entering your home.

  Register your cat on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register:

  • New Zealand Companion Animal Register (new window)

• Why should I keep my cat safe and happy at home?

  We recommend cats are kept safe and happy at home to help protect their welfare and to avoid neighbourhood nuisance. People may not realise their cats wander and some residents don’t want cats on their property. It’s best to get advice from an expert about how to keep your cat happy and healthy at home.

  Cats that roam away from home face numerous welfare risks through threats to their health and as a consequence of becoming lost or stray. Roaming cats are at greater risk of injury and death from vehicles and have an increased risk of fighting with cats and other animals. They can also spread infectious diseases (e.g. ringworm, hookworm and toxoplasmosis), ingest harmful substances and are more likely to prey on and kill wildlife. Cats that roam may also cause neighbourhood nuisance, such as toileting in gardens, spraying and fighting with other cats.

• What happens if a cat is picked up and doesn't have a microchip?

  Neither the DCC nor the SPCA pick up healthy adult cats that are roaming. However, cats may be picked up if they’re sick or injured, if they’re roaming in areas where they’re controlled to protect wildlife, or if a member of the public is concerned they’ve found a lost companion animal. A cat who is picked up without a registered microchip has less chance of being reunited with their owner.

• What should I do if my cat goes missing?

  If your cat goes missing, here’s some ways to bring your cat back home safely:

  • Update your details: Make sure your contact details are up to date on the microchip register. Veterinarians and the SPCA will scan incoming animals for a microchip and get in touch.
  • Check the 'found' listings or create a 'lost' listing at lostpet.co.nz This is a national database and the key website we recommend that everyone checks, as well as creating a 'lost' listing of their own.
  • Check Trade Me: Look on the Trade Me Lost and Found section to see if anyone has found and listed your cat.
  • Use social media to spread the word. There are plenty of lost and found pages on Facebook that can be used. Ask your friends to share your posts as well: this will get them seen by the maximum number of people.
  • Create a flyer: Make a flyer with a clear picture and description and your contact information. Distribute it locally via notice boards, neighbours and community centres.
  • Ask around your neighbourhood: knock on doors in your street and neighbourhood, describe or show them a photo of your missing cat. Ask them to check their garden sheds and garages or anywhere else where your cat may be hiding.
  • Call or visit vets or the SPCA or drop in to see them with a flyer – many of them have lost and found boards.
  • Use familiar sounds. Go outside at night when it's quiet and call your animal. Shaking biscuits or treats can help as well.
  • Don't give up. It's important to keep trying to look for your cat. Cats often go missing for days or even weeks before they show up again out of the blue.

  Find your missing cat:

  • SPCA (new window)
  • Lost pet website (new window)
  • Trade Me Lost and Found (new window)

• What do I do if I find a cat?

  • If you have found a kitten or a pregnant, senior, sick or injured cat, the SPCA or a veterinarian can help you with these animals.
  • If you plan to trap a cat, make sure you have a plan for where you’ll take the cat before you set the trap. Make sure you know your obligations under the Animal Welfare Act for live trapping an animal. Live traps must be checked 12 hours after sunrise each day that the trap remains set, starting immediately after the day the trap is set. You must attend to a trapped animal without delay. Make sure you set the trap where the animal will be protected from the hot or cold weather, direct sunshine or rain. You must also be aware of your obligations of trapping cats in an area where they’re controlled as a pest. Under the Biosecurity Act, there are places in Dunedin that a stray or feral cat cannot be released.
  • Talk to your neighbours to see if the cat is theirs. Most cats roam from home and many people don’t realise how far their cat can go.
  • Check for a microchip. Take the cat to a veterinarian or SPCA to have it scanned for a microchip and check the NZ Companion Animal Register.
  • Use a paper collar. Release the cat with a paper collar with a note to the owner to establish contact and alert them about their cat coming onto your property:
  • Share the cat’s information on lostpet.co.nz, TradeMe, social media pages, in local newspapers or on community noticeboards. Contact other welfare groups or rescues in case the cat was reported missing with them.
  • If the cat lingers or keeps coming back, and you can’t find its home, consider fostering or adopting them.
  • Ask welfare organisations or the SPCA if they have space for the cat. However, if the cat is not friendly with people, it will not be appropriate to bring it to a shelter as this is too stressful for the cat and they’re not good candidates for rehoming.
  • While there are no laws that prevent a person from ending the life of a stray or feral cat as long as it is humane, it is illegal to do this to someone’s companion animal (unless the animal is severely injured or sick). Before any decisions are made regarding ending an animal’s life, you must determine whether the animal is a companion animal.

  Find a stray cat paper collar on the SPCA website:

  • Stray cat paper collar (PDF, new window)

• Cats creating nuisance

  Cats will visit neighbouring properties as part of their usual movements – on average an urban cat’s regular movements will include 16 properties. A roaming cat may also be seeking food, shelter, exploring a new area, or looking for a mate.

  If you have a companion cat, it’s your responsibility to ensure they’re not making unwanted visits to your neighbour’s property. Install or modify fencing to keep your cat on your property, build a structure or modify part of your home as a cat-proof outdoor area where your cat still has the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, but remain at home.

  It can be frustrating to have unwanted visits from your neighbour’s cat. There are several ways to discourage cats from coming onto your property:

  • Talk to the person responsible for the cat, if you know who that is. People may not be aware of how far their cat roams or that their cat is causing nuisance. A friendly conversation may encourage your neighbour to keep their cat from roaming.
  • Ensure you’re not unintentionally providing a food source through unsecured rubbish bins, leaving your animal’s food outdoors, or not controlling wild rodents on your property.
  • Consider blocking off areas where a cat may seek shelter such as under a porch or deck.
  • Keep your garage or shed closed.
  • Cover sand pits when not in use.
  • Use netting around vegetable beds to reduce their ability to toilet in the area.
  • Modify an existing fence or install a fence to physically prevent the cat from visiting your garden.
  • Some products such as ultrasonic deterrents may help keep cats off your property, however, care should be taken in using these if you have your own companion animal who may be sensitive to the noise such as a cat, dog, rabbit or bird.