Mandatory cat de-sexing and microchipping wanted

Cats in Palmerston North are only cool if they are de-sexed and microchipped.

That’s according to a majority of public submissions to the Palmerston North City Council’s Draft Animals and Bees Bylaw review.

Council policy analyst Annmarie Mori said 56 submissions were received and most of them expressed views about the proposed rules for cats.

‘‘Over two-thirds of the submissions related to cats, particularly in the area of introducing mandatory de-sexing and microchipping of cats.

‘‘The submissions received showed strong support for mandatory de-sexing and a high level of support for micro-chipping.

The submissions also included suggestions about cat curfews and containment, and will be presented to the council.

Manawatu¯ SPCA general manager Danny Auger was delighted with the outcome.

‘‘We presented our position to the council last year, and when the first draft of the bylaws came out and didn’t show any restrictions on cats, we went back to the council and found there was quite a high level of support for mandatory de-sexing of cats over six months and microchipping of cats from three months.’’

He said the SPCA had spent $200,000 over the past five years on de-sexing cats.

‘‘That’s an awful lot of money and in the next five years, if there was no de-sexing, the number of cats in Palmerston North would rise to 100,000.’’

He said that figure was based on conservative estimates of stray and moggie breeding rates.

As for other animals, there were nine submissions about roosters, and people would be allowed to keep the crowing birds in Ashhurst, Bunnythorpe, Linton and Longburn, and in the city with a permit.

Bees and beehives attracted eight submissions, some questioning whether they should be allowed in urban areas, while others suggested that keeping urban bees should require a permit.

A submissions hearing is planned for March and the new bylaw is expected to be adopted in May.