New Zealand Council Wants To Ban All Cats As A Part Of Their "Pest Plan" Throughout The Country

by Damjan

1 Aug 2018

New Zealand’s cat debate is getting a lot bigger than one small coastal village. In Omaui, Environment Southland’s proposed pest plan would require current cat owners to neuter, microchip, and register their pets, while also stopping new cats from being brought in once the existing ones are gone. But the idea of banning cats has already sparked backlash from residents who say the local authority is going too far.

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Now the fight over pets, pests, and public land is heating up fast.

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Speaking to Newshub, a national news outlet, biosecurity operations manager Ali Meade said, "There are cats getting into the native bush; they’re preying on native birds, taking insects, and capturing reptiles—all sorts of things. They’re causing quite a bit of damage."

New Zealand city street scene with cat warning signage, pest control theme — Govt

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Local residents are ready to oppose, petition, and protest the proposal.

Close-up of a domestic cat outdoors near a rural property fence — Pinterest

Nico Jarvis, a local resident, spoke with the Otago Daily Times to say that owning a cat is necessary for managing rat infestations in the area. She said, "If I cannot have a cat, it almost becomes unhealthy for me to live in my house!"

Government building facade in New Zealand, referencing council pest plan proposal — Jstor

This echoes the family whose home became a battleground after fearless roaming kittens turned everything upside down.

Jarvis, along with other members of the community, understands the argument for conservation but argued nonetheless, "...but I think long-term, the ramifications of this are not something that even non-cat owners will be comfortable with. It’s like a police state."

Screenshot-style headline about banning cats in New Zealand pest plan article

And what happens if someone violates the ban? Environment Southland will instruct people to remove the cat but is willing to, as an "absolute last resort," remove the cat themselves.

Wildlife conservation poster showing invasive species control, cats included in messaging — People

While people like Nico Jarvis are preparing a petition, Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust chairman John Collins is in full support of the cat ban—not because he hates cats, but because Omaui is a "high-value conservation area," and "removing cats from the area would enable native animals to thrive," as they want their local environment to "be wildlife-rich."

Council meeting room or public hearing setting, officials discussing cat ban — Stuff

Submissions are open until October 23rd, but New Zealand has been very ambitious about becoming "predator-free by 2050," with plans to eradicate species such as possums, stoats, and rats. Wondering what will happen to the cats in Omaui is definitely something that global cat lovers will keep an eye on for the next couple of months!

Map-style graphic of New Zealand with pest management zones and cat ban focus — whotv

For more cat conflict, read how one man cut off the “only access route” for neighbor cats.

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