The goal of this policy is to promote the protection of native species by minimising
the impact of cats on native wildlife, while recognising the role that cats
play as companion animals. Ideally, this goal would be achieved through ensuring
that every cat in New Zealand is a responsibly owned and cared for domestic
cat.
Objectives
· To reduce the impact of domestic cats on native wildlife by encouraging
people to follow the principles of responsible cat ownership.
· To reduce the impact of stray and feral cats on
native wildlife by removing them using humane and environmentally sound methods.
· To work constructively with other organisations
involved in cat management to reduce the impact of cats on native wildlife.
Policies
1. Categories of cat
1.1 Forest and Bird recognises three categories of cat; domestic, stray and
feral (see definitions section) which are consistent with the categories
recognised by other organisations involved in cat management.
2. Domestic cats
2.1 Forest and Bird recognises the role of cats as companion
animals, and advocates responsible ownership of domestic cats based on the principles
of responsible cat ownership (page 3).
2.2 Forest and Bird seeks that in or near areas where the
indigenous wildlife are at risk of predation by cats, "wildlife friendly"
status should be given to private land through Resource Management Act tools
(including, where possible, plans, policy statements, and resource consent conditions).
Wildlife friendly status prevents the ownership of cats and other predators
by occupiers as pets.
2.3 Forest and Bird advocates greater legal responsibility
by cat owners, including legislation requiring registration, identification
and desexing* of domestic cats.
* Except for breeding cats, which should be registered as such and kept in compliance
with the standards of New Zealand Cat Fancy.
3. Stray cats
3.1 Forest and Bird supports the removal of stray cat populations from both
urban and rural areas, and advocates greater responsibility from councils in
dealing with stray cat problems in their area. Stray cat populations can be
removed by domesticating, desexing and finding suitable homes for the cats or
by humanely euthanasing the cats. Programmes to remove cats should be accompanied
by control of prey species such as rodents.
4. Feral cats
4.1 Forest & Bird supports the eradication of feral cats from all areas of
habitat, ensuring that trapping is carried out in accordance with the Animal
Welfare Act and cats are killed humanely, and that eradication programmes include
pest species that are prey of cats. Forest & Bird advocates greater responsibility
from councils in dealing with feral cats, through their inclusion as pests in
Regional Pest Management Strategies.
5. Conservation programmes requiring predator control
5.1 Predator control, including cat removal, should be carried out humanely,
efficiently and effectively, in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 1999
and Forest & Bird's guidelines for branches involved in trapping and control.
5.2 Where conservation programmes include predator control, a statement on the
aims and methods for control should be produced to act as a guide for staff
and volunteers and ensure compliance with Forest & Bird guidelines.
6. Other organisations
6.1 Forest & Bird acknowledges the benefit of working with other groups involved
in cat management, and will seek to work alongside other groups where goals
for cat management are shared.
Further information
Definitions of cat categories
Domestic cats are owned and cared for by humans. They rely on humans for their
basic needs including food, shelter and veterinary care. Even well fed domestic
cats retain and use their hunting instinct, however responsible ownership can
minimise the impact of a domestic cat on the local wildlife.
Stray cats are unowned cats, which live in or around human
populations. They include abandoned domestic cats and cats born to strays. Stray
cats rely on human populations for some of their needs, most of their food being
scavenged from or provided by people. Stray cat populations often breed with
and are added to from the population of domestic cats. It is possible to domesticate
stray cats, thus reducing their impact on wildlife and improving their quality
of life.
Feral cats are essentially wild animals that do not rely
on humans for any of their needs. They live in the wild, often far from human
populations, and survive through hunting and scavenging their food. Feral cat
populations are self-sustaining and have the greatest impact on native wildlife.
Feral cats may exist through necessity in colonies, although this is an unnatural
and stressful situation for a territorial animal such as the cat.
Principles of responsible cat ownership
· Being committed to caring for your cat throughout its life
· Not giving cats or kittens as gifts
· Desexing your cat
· Never abandoning a cat
· Providing proper care for cats while on holiday
· Using identification, either a secure collar and tag or a microchip
· Ensuring your cat is able to exercise and play (e.g. with moving toys)
· Keeping your cat inside at night
· Feeding your cat indoors, and not leaving food out for stray or feral
cats
· Protecting wildlife in your garden (e.g. preventing cat access to bird
feeders and trees with nests)
(Note: Evidence suggests that neither bells nor warning
collars are effective in reducing cat predation.)
