Pussyfooting around? companion cat by-laws in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Cats have a significant impact on Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity. While national legislation can help reduce the impacts of feral and stray cats, managing companion cats is more complex due to bonds between cats and their owners. Local councils can use by-laws to regulate companion cats, although it can be difficult to gain widespread public acceptance. This research analysed public submissions from five New Zealand councils to gain deeper insight into community attitudes towards cat control by-laws and consider the potential role of national standards. The submissions indicated that the majority of submitters supported by-laws, although regional differences suggest the need for localised approaches.