Council soothes upset cat lovers

Pet owners fear that roaming felines will be put down

Auckland Council is reassuring cat owners that a new policy to protect ecologically special urban areas will not threaten wandering felines.

The assurances follow concern from cat lovers that their pets might be in danger if they weren’t microchipped.

The council is reviewing its Regional Pest Management Plan, which suggests any cat caught in an “ecologically significant site” without a microchip could be put down.

Council biosecurity manager Phil Brown said the proposed approach did not involve controlling non-microchipped cats in urban areas. It instead “represents the continuation of current practice” in many ways.

The proposed programme provides for management of cats at sites of high biodiversity value.

“As is currently the case, trapping may be used at those sites identified as ecologically significant where cat control is carried out alongside other pest control. It’s not a reactive programme; it will be well planned at specific sites of ecological significance where rats, possums and other pests are also being managed.”

The council is clarifying when a cat is considered a “pest”.

“The absence of a microchip will be used to determine whether a cat is considered a pest at these sites. At highbiodiversity-value sites, some non-microchipped cats will be euthanised, as is the case with other pest animals.”

While the council encouraged microchipping, it did not plan to make this compulsory, Brown said.

New Zealand Cat Foundation chairman Anne BatleyBurton told the Herald she was concerned about the policy.

While she was pleased to hear cats in urban areas wouldn’t be targeted, she questioned how the council would define “highbiodiversity-value sites”.

“If they include reserves and parks this could still be a huge concern. Imagine if the Rose Gardens, the Domain or the Ayr St Reserve were to be included, and the problems that would arise if cats were being picked up and put down if they happened to wander into those areas?”

Brown said highbiodiversity-value sites included sites of special ecological interest or significant native ecosystems such as the Hunua Ranges or parts of Great Barrier Island. It would not include highly modified parkland like the Parnell Rose Gardens or Domain.

However, it was yet to be decided if suburbs backing onto bush, such as the North Shore’s Chatswood Reserve, were included.