In some areas of New Zealand, cats are already forbidden and in several decades, you may not come across any in the whole country. Are you interested in what makes New Zealanders create these rules?
New Zealanders love cats. You’ll find at least one in almost a half of the households and they take keeping them very seriously. For example, New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends neutring and emphasizes that inhabitants should not forget about their pets even in emergency scenarios, e.g. for an earthquake.
The regulations and recommendations for keeping cats differ in various regions and cities. They often order neutering cats not intended for breeding, the obligation to have a microchip and there are sometimes also limits on the number of cats in a household or the prohibition of free movement of cats overnight.
These measures usually aim to protect cats themselves, to prevent health risks, not to disturb neighbours and to protect original bird populations. And it's also for the birds that the regional council of Omaui on the South Island wants to prohibit cats at all. Nowadays, all cats have to be neutered, registered, have microchips and getting new cats will be prohibited.
As everyone knows, cats are natural hunters and they largely contributed to the extinction of several dozens of birds, reptiles and mammals. According to biodiversity experts, if cats were absent from New Zealand, it would mean a great improvement for local nature. This local suggestion follows the New Zealand plan which aims to get rid of many predators which are not natural there such as cats, rats, brown rats or weasels by 2050.
By all means, Omaui is not the first region which wants to prohibit cats. For example, Kapiti island prohibited cats in 1934 already and the largest New Zealand city of Auckland has a rule which says that each cat without a microchip captured in an environmentally valuable area is put down.
The sad truth is that cats really contribute to the extinction of species to a large extent. According to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they managed to contribute to the extinction of 63 animal species worldwide in only 500 years. The most endangered are island species, for example those on Madagascar or New Zealand. When an unknown predator (a cat in this case) gets to their isolated space, they got no chance.
That’s why it’s understandable that New Zealanders want to eliminate this “foreign beast of prey” even though they love them. Is this the only solution? What do you think?
Dog obedience is a big topic not only among dog owners, but also outside the community. A dog that does not obey the commands of his owner can be a big problem. Therefore, every dog should undergo at least basic training. The level of training then,...
Cats love fresh air. At least most of them do. However, not all of them have the opportunity to enjoy freedom in nature. Especially cats living in cities spend a lot of time indoors without the opportunity to run freely. That is why cat owners may...
It is a well-known fact that every dog likes to play. However, not all dog owners use the option of interactive toys. These toys, in addition to being fun and an outlet for energy, also offer the possibility of development. They have a positive effect...
Our pets are often members of our families, so it goes without saying that we want to give them the same privileges and comforts as anyone else. Although we couldn’t imagine it in the beginning, our canine companions follow us everywhere. On the...
We usually want only the best for our pets. That is why we often look for ways to improve their quality of life and make sure to support their health as much as possible. We feed them with the best on the market, include regular walks and activities...
In this next part of our series dedicated to dogfrisbee, an activity where the dog is thrown a disc, which he then catches and brings back, we focus on the discipline of Dogdartbee. This discipline comes from the Netherlands and its main essence is...
Like dogs, even cats may have therapeutic effects on patients. This treatment method is called felinotherapy and is suitable for both chronically ill patients, who may need help with coping, and those who suffer from long-term stress. Cats can bring...
Rabbits are popular pets, especially with children. They are cute and like to be petted. It’s good to know, however, that there is a wide range of rabbit breeds. There are even giant breeds, which require slightly different care than dwarf breeds. We...
There are a number of dog breeds that fall into the giant category. We may know and see a lot of them. How do these dogs differ from the mid-sized or even smaller breeds? And what do they need in terms of nutrition, raising and home? On this topic, we...
Sharing a home with a puppy is a great joy as well as worry. Especially if you have no previous experience with a dog or other domestic animal. Before getting a puppy, you should take into account a number of things, think about them carefully and...
Dogsled races are fascinating events. For the dogs and the mushers, these are challenging activities for which they need to prepare properly not only physically but also mentally. The races are not just about performance, but especially about stamina...
Thai cats originate from Siam, today’s Thailand, and came to Europe in the 1880s, then under the name Royal Cats of Siam. However, the whole process of recognition of the breed and its breeding is a complex matter. Around the 1930s, two currents...
