Cat owners in a small New Zealand village have been given paws for thought after a local council pledged to carry out a ban on the animals.
According to a “pest plan” put forward by Environment Southland, cat owners in Omaui, on the country’s South Island, will have to neuter, microchip and register their cats with local authorities.
The proposal states that when the cat dies, owners will not be allowed to purchase a new one.
“There’s cats getting into the native bush; they’re preying on native birds, they’re taking insects, they’re taking reptiles — all sorts of things,” biosecurity operations manager Ali Meade told the Newshub news service.
“They’re doing quite a bit of damage.”
The proposal is also being backed by Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust Chairman John Collins, who says removing cats from the area would enable native animals to thrive. Read more