SPCA criticises council’s cat ownership limit

A new cap on cat numbers in urban areas, recently introduced by Mackenzie District Council, has been labelled as ‘‘unnecessarily restrictive’’ by the SPCA.

New provisions in the council’s Keeping of Animals Poultry and Bees Bylaw create a limit of two adult cats per household in urban areas – possibly the lowest limit in New Zealand.

According to a submission from Forest and Bird to the council’s bylaw review, 10 territorial authorities limit cat ownership to three per household, including Buller and Invercargill.

Four more limit ownership to four cats per household, and three others cap numbers at five cats.

The SPCA has raised concerns about the Mackenzie restriction provision, which it does not support, except where there are issues with nuisance behaviours, or in instances such as hoarding which affects animal welfare.

SPCA scientific officer Dr Alison Vaughan said it did not advocate for blanket limits on the number of cats allowed per household and considers limiting the number of cats per household to two is ‘‘unnecessarily restrictive and could create a barrier to adoption of cats to responsible homes’’.

She said it advocates for all cats (except those belonging to registered breeders) to be desexed, microchipped, and registered, and supports keeping companion cats at home to ‘‘keep them safe from harm’’ while minimising negative impacts on wildlife and the community.

However, Forest and Bird regional Canterbury West Coast conservation manager Nicky Snoyink said the limit was a great step in the right direction, and commended the council for the move.

‘‘Mackenzie joins an increasing number of district councils to include some sort of domestic cat management provisions in its keeping of animals bylaw which is good to see,’’ Snoyink said.

Snoyink said the Mackenzie bylaw relates to cats as a public nuisance rather than a commitment to conservation or biodiversity. ‘‘It would also be really good to keep cats inside at night, because that’s when they roam around the neighbourhood and get into fights and come home all broken and scratched, and the cobenefit is that our biodiversity gets a bit of a break,’’ she said.