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Mandatory registration and microchipping would separate pet cats from feral ones and defend our wildlife, ecologists say.
New Zealand is a cat-loving nation. In reality, we boast the very best price of cat possession on this planet.
However, statistics present that cats have been implicated within the decline or extinction of extra species than some other invasive predator.
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research has at present revealed a assessment of the present analysis on the impression and administration of cats right here and abroad.
Ecologist, and co-author of the assessment, Al Glen told Newsable that for the sake of our native birds, the most effective case state of affairs can be to haven’t any feral cats in any respect, solely pet cats which might be stored inside a property’s boundary.
However, he says it’s nonetheless troublesome to inform a pet cat from a feral one.
“In an ideal world, we would have a similar approach to what we have for pet dogs, where they’re registered, and they have a microchip.”
“Then there would be very little question about whether a particular cat is owned or not.”
Smart traps might then be developed that might scan for microchips and never set off when a pet cat was inside.
Glen can’t see any cause why there shouldn’t be the identical guidelines for dogs and cats.
“Microchipping is pretty simple and inexpensive to do, and it doesn’t have any negative consequences for the cats themselves.”
Listen to the complete interview here.
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