Registration, microchipping, restricting numbers per
household and desexing of cats is being promoted by the
Ashley Rakahuri Rivercare Group in North
Canterbury.
“We do this on behalf of all river
residents, especially braided river birds, and to
avoid continuing cruelty to cats which are typically abandoned
to lead a precarious presence in the wild,” the group
said in a letter provided to the Mayor of Waimakariri
District Council, Dan Gordon.
Cats were the 2nd
worst predator of threatened braided river birds on the
river, Norway rats being the worst, the group
included.
Operations Manager Grant Davey offered Mr Gordon
photographic proof of cats at nests and traps, some cats
had swum throughout the river.
During a recent trial on
baits for traps over 3 months there were 79 check outs of
cats, one of the most of any predator. The traps were not for
cats.
Controls would include a layer of defense for
threatened birds offering the numerous types an opportunity to
breed effectively, and the variety of undesirable litters would
minimize, the group said.
A committee member said:
“Bylaws to manage cats will, in the long term, cause
less cats being disposed and breeding in the
wild.
“We understand from experience in Canterbury that
feral cat populations are big, and not quickly managed.
The cat control laws are urgently needed.”
The
group advised Mr Gordon to go even more than the Selwyn District
Council law which needs registration and microchipping
of
cats.
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