Proposal for cat powers pawed over

Dunedin calls to give councils more teeth to control cats will be supported by the Palmerston North City Council.

The Dunedin City Council is putting a remit to Local Government New Zealand’s annual conference to ask the Government to give councils greater powers.

It said current law only allowed councils to impose controls on cats to protect people from nuisance, health and safety risks.

There were no powers to pass bylaws to restrict cat numbers and impose conditions on owners in order to protect wildlife.

A council could not pass a bylaw to control cats, except within reserves.

‘‘Cats have teeth and local government does not,’’ said Cr Duncan Mccann.

The Dunedin proposal was for measures including microchipping, desexing and possible curfews.

Cr Lorna Johnson said as a cat owner and veterinary surgeon, she thought it would be foolish not to accept that some cats caused a lot of damage to wildlife.

She said the council was supporting activities such as green corridors and pest control that would encourage more native wildlife into urban areas.

‘‘If we are encouraging native birds into the city, we need to look at the dangers, and some of those are in the form of cats.’’

Legislation needed to change so the council could bring in ‘‘measured’’ controls to give that wildlife a chance against domestic stray and feral cats.

Only Cr Vaughan Dennison voted against the call for change.

‘‘Is this the next most important thing we want to grapple with? I have not had memorable feedback about cats jumping fences or attacking people. It is rather laughable.’’

Cr Rachel Bowen said if cats were attacking people, that would be a public health issue the council had powers to deal with.

‘‘But this is about protecting birds, and it is not a minor issue. We have a particular interest in protecting native wildlife.’’

Mayor Grant Smith said he supported making a strong plea for greater powers.

He said Palmerston North’s support was particularly valid given recent representations from SPCA Manawatu manager Danny Auger asking the council to change its bylaw to stop the sale of kittens that had not been microchipped and desexed.

Saturday night’s presentation by the Manawatu Concert Band was an enjoyable programme of largely well-known popular works with plenty to entertain young and old together.

The Beach Boys’ Greatest Hits, the opening item, soon had the audience in a cheerful mood. This bracket also contained a toetapping version of Disney’s The