Me noho pou whirinaki koe hei kaitiaki ngeru
Be a responsible cat owner
Responsible pet ownership is about protecting and enjoying your pet and the wildlife of Tāmaki Makaurau at the same time. Let’s take a look at responsible pet ownership for different pets.
Cats
If we let our cats out to roam, they can get run over, encounter a pest control trap, or get into fights with other cats or dogs. Cats are happiest and healthiest at home.
While beloved, our pets can also pose a threat to our native wildlife. Reducing this impact through responsible pet management is vital to preserve our native birds, bats, lizards, frogs and insects.
There are some great ways to keep your pet safe and wildlife-friendly:
- desexing to prevent overpopulation
- keeping cats indoors at night at a minimum, or at home on your property as much as you can.
- playing with your cat lots to keep it happy at home and reduce its hunting instinct
- using a bell or even better a bird-safe collar so the birds can see your cat coming
- feeding a high meat diet if allowing your cat outside, to reduce its urge to hunt
- When you go on holiday, leave your cat at home with a cat-sitter, or take it to a cattery. Never take your cat on holiday, especially if you’re visiting offshore islands, parks, reserves or coastal areas.
Check out the resources below for some more tips.
