Cats are much loved companions and family members in many households. At the same time, they are one of the many pressures facing threatened native species.
Around the region, iwi, hapū, communities and agencies are working hard to protect shorebirds and other threatened species from other threats such as rats and stoats, but cat predation continues to cause harm.
Responsible cat ownership measures such as desexing, microchipping, collars, and keeping cats at home on their property are good for cat welfare, including protecting them from overpopulation, neglect, traffic accidents, dogs and other hazards. These same measures also help protect our wildlife.
We already partner with the SPCA and local vets to provide free desexing and microchipping to communities living near threatened species sites.
We want your feedback on whether we should use rules to require responsible cat ownership measures in certain circumstances, in addition to our current approach to promoting responsible cat ownership. Increasingly, councils across Aotearoa/New Zealand and around the world are putting in place rules to help ensure every cat is well cared for, with owners keeping them safe and happy at home away from threatened wildlife. These measures also make it easier to identify and return lost cats, helping to ensure their safety and well-being.
We also want your feedback on whether council should invest more in providing financial support to assist people who cannot afford to desex their cats.
For more information on this topic, read our full consultation materials.
To see which areas of Auckland will be considered within 1km of known threatened species habitat (cat sensitive priority areas), see map 1.
What is your opinion on the following potential cat management interventions for the locations identified below?