Lifestyles of cats and dogs must change for Wellington to become predator-free

Wednesday, 15 August 2018

The capital wants to see native wildlife return to within the city limits, but possibly at the expense domestic pets.

The future of Wellington looks different for cats and dogs as the city moves towards predator-free status.

Pets won't be considered predators, but there will likely be a lot more restrictions to keep them separate from wildlife.

Research from the University of Otago's department of zoology has found the restoration of our native species should not be limited to national parks.

But Associate Professor Yolanda van Heezik said the control of cats and dogs would require a licence this country does not have.

Cats aren't a target of Predator Free Wellington, but their owners may face change when vulnerable species are reintroduced. (File photo).

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'While kiwi could probably thrive in town belts and bush fragments around the edges of cities, dogs would be a major problem.'

Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage has said if a household's cat were to die in the future, people could consider not replacing it.

This month, the Noosa Council in Australia introduced a $261 infringement for owners who allow their cat to wander.

The fine was introduced in the wake of a growing number of complaints about cats killing native wildlife, and even other people's pets.

At an announcement to fund the Predator Free Capital project last week, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said if a household's cat were to die in the future, people could consider not replacing it.

Gradually, people would recognise that seeing wildlife thrive would mean keeping cats inside, she said.

Van Heezik said, aside from kiwi, other species would be prey to cats and 35 per cent of New Zealand homes owned at least one cat.

To change attitudes in respect to cat ownership was 'a challenge'. But the reintroduction of vulnerable species into urban areas would fail unless residents valued native wildlife more, and were willing to contain their cats, she said.

It's Capital Kiwi's goal to reintroduce kiwi back to Wellington. (File photo)

Predator Free Wellington project director James Willcocks said cats would not be targeted by the Predator Free Wellington project.

'We are targeting rats, possums and mustelids as they are the biggest threat to our native biodiversity,' he said.

Capital Kiwi project leader Paul Ward said Wellington needed to work towards promoting responsible pet ownership.

One day, cat and dog owners would have to face change, he said.

But it would be an inclusive approach, rather than rangers 'slapping down fines', he said.

'Where we will have kiwi in and around backyards, that's where we'll have to work closely with communities.'

It could be years before the city was ready for those conversations, he said.

'Absolutely we would be able to have cats and dogs in the future. We're just going to have to evolve the way we keep out pets.'

Wellington City Council spokeswoman Victoria Barton-Chapple said there was no legislation that would enable them to fine or fringe cat owners.

'Our animal control team are currently extremely busy dealing with the issues arising from the 12,000-plus dogs that are registered in Wellington. They are not resourced to deal with cats as well.'

In the lead-up to a predator-free future, the council was not considering a cat curfew, enforcing cat bells, or discouraging pet cats entirely, she said.

A cap on cat numbers per household was recently consulted on as part of the council's Animal Bylaw.

'Although there was broad support for limiting the number of cats per household, council made the decision not to include that regulation in the final bylaw.'

Greater Wellington Regional Council recently consulted on a pest management plan that lists pest cats as a pest that can be managed in the region.