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Responsible cat ownership

See obligations and tips for being a responsible cat owner.

Desexing

As of April 2024, it's mandatory to desex your domestic cat if they're 6 months and older, unless they're exempt under the conditions listed in Animal Bylaw 2024 document sections 10.2.2. and 10.2.3.

There're many benefits to desexing your cat, such as:

  • Preventing unwanted kittens – in 2023, our stray cat programme took in 356 stray cats/kittens in Wellington city.
  • Elimination of risks associated with pregnancy, giving birth, and raising young.
  • Reduces the risk of reproductive cancers in both female and male cats, leading to an increase in lifespan.
  • Prevents reproductive cycle behaviour such as yowling, crying and calling.
  • Reduces aggression and nuisance behaviours in male cats.

Microchipping

It's mandatory to microchip your domestic cat if they're 12 weeks or older, and the microchip must be registered with the New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR).

A microchip is a small chip that is implanted under the skin that has a unique identification number attached to it. The microchip number is then registered to NZCAR where the owners contact details can be found.

Benefits of microchipping your cat

  • Microchipping helps protect your cat and identifies you as their owner.
  • Microchips are reliable, unlike cat collars, which often come undone and fall off.
  • Microchipping makes it easy for vets, animal shelters and councils to identify cats if they become lost or separated, or if they’re causing a nuisance.
  • Microchipping is recommended as best practice by the Ministry for Primary Industries in their Companion Cats - Code of Welfare 2007.

It's important to regularly log onto the New Zealand Companion Animal Register and ensure your details and your pets’ details are kept up to date.

The Wellington City Council bylaw on microchipping cats was originally passed at the Environment Committee on 4 August 2016.

Non-microchipped cats

If your non-microchipped cat is picked up you'll not be fined, but you may have to pay a ‘reuniting fee’ through the SPCA before they are returned. This fee covers the costs of looking after and possibly treating your cat.

An owner who repeatedly refuses to microchip their cat may be prosecuted for breach of Council’s bylaw. 

Love your cat and your wildlife

We're lucky enough to live in a city that is abundant with native wildlife. Cats can hunt native wildlife, even well-fed cats.

If you're a cat owner here are some more things that you can do to reduce the impact on Wellington’s native wildlife:

  • Put in place a cat curfew. This involves keeping your cat indoors at night, reducing the chances of them hunting wildlife.
  • Monitored outdoor time. Keeping an eye on your cat while they play outside means that you’re also able to monitor for native birds or other visitors.
  • Avoid using bird feeders in your backyard. This creates a place where birds could congregate in high numbers, making them easy prey for cats.
  • Anti-predation collars or attaching a bell to a quick release collar can help reduce harm to wildlife. We encourage the use of smart cat collars. Pair the smart cat collar with a bell and you can further enhance bird safety.

You can take responsible cat ownership a step further by keeping them indoors. There are many benefits to keeping your cat contained inside. Contained cats have been shown to live longer lives as they do not encounter risks that roaming cats do, such as vehicles, predators, poisons, and disease.

You'll need to make sure you provide your cat with enough mental stimulation while they live indoors. A great option for this is to get a ‘catio’ – an outdoor cat enclosure where cats can enjoy outside life while staying contained.

Emergency planning

Having a plan in place for evacuating your cat during an emergency is vital. Set some time aside to develop a plan and ensure the following:

  • Make sure you have a cat carrier – don’t forget to consider what size you need.
  • Put supplies for your cat into your emergency evacuation box.
  • Make note of your cat’s favourite hiding spaces.
  • Practice your evacuation plan make sure you’re including all members of the family.
  • For more tips on preparing your household, see the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) Get Ready website.

Contact us

Email: cat.management@wcc.govt.nz

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