With two important environmental holidays coming up, World Migratory Bird Day on 13 May and International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May, it’s as good a time as any to consider how our pets affect New Zealand’s wildlife.
Wandering dogs can cause a great deal of harm to birds and other animals, as can cats – and knowing how to stop a cat from wandering (especially at night) can be quite a conundrum.
Estimates from conservation group Forest and Bird suggest that New Zealand’s 1.4 million domestic cats kill 1.12 million native birds a year. Off-leash and wandering dogs also continue to be a problem, especially in restricted areas. It’s clear that we have a responsibility to help.
We already have our Lead the Way Programme which empowers dog owners to be responsible on beaches and project our precious native wildlife.
We also support responsible cat ownership – there is a place for domestic cats with responsible owners in Predator Free New Zealand. So, what does this “responsible ownership” actually look like?
Our Lead the Way programme partner PD Insurance spoke to Dr. Imogen Bassett, Principal Advisor for Biosecurity at the Auckland Council, about how you and your pet can play your part …
How to stop a cat from wandering
As you well know, your cat is a curious creature and their natural instinct is to explore their surroundings.
They’re also territorial animals and may wander to mark and defend their stake of land. Like wandering dogs, they may do so in search of food, mates, or simply to satisfy their curiosity.
Unfortunately, this can result in your furball getting their claws into plenty of wild birds and other animals. Local feathered friends like kiwi, bellbirds, fantails, and tui are especially vulnerable, as are native reptiles such as geckos and skinks. Cats have also been observed hunting and killing native insects such as wētā (of which many species are threatened or endangered), as well as native small mammals.
More recently, we confirmed that feral and domestic cats are repeatedly hunting and eating New Zealand’s native bats.
Further, cats can transmit the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis), which is a known cause of mortality in both Hector’s dolphins and the critically endangered Māui dolphins.
Here’s what you can do to help…
Make yours an indoor cat
“There are no rules requiring you to keep your cat on your property,” says Dr. Bassett, “However, keeping them at home is definitely an important part of choosing to be a responsible pet owner.”
When done right, making yours an indoor cat can protect both them and other animals from harm. Indoor cats statistically live longer than outdoor cats, and they’re less likely to pick up diseases like Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.
Being an indoor cat doesn’t mean they should never go outside. Indoor cats still need outdoor exposure and play. You can take them out on a leash for a walk (read PD’s article: How to Train a Cat to Walk on a Leash ) or let them out in an enclosed area or catio.
Fence them in
If you’re hesitant to make yours an indoor cat, another way to stop your cat from wandering is to properly fence off your property.
“It’s common knowledge that an important part of being a responsible dog owner is to ensure your wandering dog is kept on your property when it’s not out and about with you. Many people are unaware that similar solutions are also available for cats,” Dr Bassett tell us.
A quick Google search will reveal a wealth of innovative cat containment solutions for Kiwis. Check out this one, for instance.
Dr. Basset mentions spinning toppers for fences, which prevent cats from jumping over, saying, “it’ll also stop the neighbours’ cats from getting in and bullying your cat!”
Curtail with a catio
A third solution to the question of how to stop your cat from wandering is to contain them in a smaller outdoor section – perhaps your deck or a ‘catio’.
Catio designs can vary widely, from small window boxes or balcony enclosures to large, elaborate structures with multiple levels and features like scratching posts, toys, and climbing walls. Some people attach catios to their house, while others construct freestanding structures.
Best of all, you can make it yourself! Check out this DYI catio video below:
Two words: neuter and spay!
As mentioned, cats (especially tomcats), will often wander in search of an opportunity to mate or to defend their territory from other encroaching cats. Research has proven that neutering them lessens this roaming behaviour.
On top of that, research shows cats live longer and healthier lives once they’re spayed. Male cats can live twice as long as their unneutered counterparts and females live 62% longer.
While you’re here, take this quiz to find out how conservation friendly your cat is and then read tips for improving your score.
Keep them stimulated and well-fed
Scientists have proven that cats who have adequate nutrition and entertainment hunt less. Always ensure your cat is getting proper nutrition and enough water.
Making sure your cat has plenty of toys to play with and interactive games to keep them entertained at home is sure to lessen their boredom and need to roam. Here’s how to make your home more fun for your cat:
Get a microchip fitted
Now, a microchip or ID tag won’t stop a wandering dog or cat, but it could possibly cut short the amount of time they’re out and about. Proper ID will help others identify your cat and get in touch with you to alert you that they’ve escaped. You could even add a short message alongside your phone number on their collar’s tag, something like: “I’m not allowed to roam! Please call my mum.”
The best idea is to microchip your cat AND add a collar (even better if it’s a GPS collar).
Reflective collars with an electronic device or bell will help to alert birds and animals of your cat’s presence and give them a better chance to escape. Here are some more cat collar pros and cons.
Reunited thanks to chips
Dr. Bassett mentions that New Zealand pet owners are really embracing responsible pet ownership. For example, microchipping of domestic cats increased from 12% in 2011 to 49% in 2020. She adds that after the Christchurch earthquakes, 85% of microchipped pets were reunited with their owners, compared with only 15% of non-chipped pets.
She says, “I know from personal experience how distressing it is to lose a feline family member to being hit by traffic. If I’d known then what I know now about solutions for keeping my cat at home, I could have been spared that loss as well as the loss of all the native skinks our cat used to bring home.”
Check out this piece on stopping your cat catching birds for more valuable tips.
In case you’re feeling cat-tacked!
Dr Imogen Bassett acknowledges that cats aren’t the only threat to our wildlife.
She says, “Cat owners are definitely not being picked on, but they do have an important role to play in helping protect our native wildlife from one of the many threats they face. And in fact the great thing about being a responsible cat owner is that it’s not just good for wildlife, but also good for your cat. Desexing, microchipping and keeping your cat at home all help keep your cat safe, healthy and happy.”
Dr Bassett mentions that Auckland Council is putting its efforts into protecting threatened species from a whole range of other threats. This includes a programme to control feral animals such as rats, possums and stoats. It also targets weeds, which if left unchecked have the potential to smother the habitat our native wildlife depend on.
In fact, the biggest threat our wild animals face is climate change.
“In terms of climate change, one of the most effective things we can do at the moment to help our native wildlife face this challenge is to reduce the pressure they’re under from other threats, particularly introduced species,” says Dr Bassett.
Wandering dog – what to do?
And now, onto the pups! Dogs also have a significant impact on New Zealand’s wildlife, especially on ground-nesting birds, bats, and marine mammals. Wandering pups disturb wildlife in several ways, including causing birds to abandon their nests and eggs.
“Even if your dog doesn’t kill birds, just being chased by a dog can be extremely stressful for wildlife,” says Dr Bassett. “It may stop them from being able to feed or look after their young properly.”
As they’re natural predators, dogs may hunt and kill native wildlife such as penguins, lizards, and seals. They can carry diseases such as distemper and mange and transmit it to native wildlife. They can also contribute to habitat destruction by trampling vegetation and disturbing soil, impacting the survival of some native species.
How to curb wandering dogs
We recently partnered with PD Insurance on our Lead the Way programme, which encourages responsible dog ownership and lead usage:
This collaboration has led to us creating plenty of resources on keeping your dog from roaming and responsible dog ownership. Be sure to check out some of these here:
- Fined! Why You Can’t Take Your Dog or Cat Into NZ National Parks
- How to be a Responsible Dog Parent
- Conservation Week NZ: How Dog Parents Can Help
In summary, here are some surefire ways to stop a wandering dog:
Keep them contained
It might seem like a no-brainer, but have you properly contained your dog on your property? Plug any gaps or holes in your fence and gate. Make sure there are no opportunities to dig under a wall or scale a fence.
You can also do “boundary training”, which may help. Find out more about that here:
Get a collar and/or microchip
Again, a chip or GPS collar won’t stop your dog from wandering, but it can help with recovering them. Make sure they have a collar, tag, or microchip. Wandering dogs can more easily be returned if they have proper ID.
Desex them
Dogs, like cats, tend to try to escape and wander more when they haven’t been desexed. Desexing your pup also has health and social benefits.
Keep the stimulation up
Like cats, dogs that are bored or under-stimulated are more likely to wander. Provide your pup with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. This will keep them engaged and less likely to seek entertainment elsewhere.
Become wildlife wise with Lead the Way
Take the ‘Share the beach’ quiz (it takes less than 5 minutes) to test your knowledge of wildlife rules. Once you finish you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a colour-coded Lead the Way lead and help promote responsible dog ownership while out enjoying the outdoors.
It’s crucial to reflect on our pets’ impact as we approach World Migratory Bird Day and International Day for Biological Diversity. Wandering dogs and cats, with their innate curiosity, pose a threat to New Zealand’s wildlife. Forest and Bird estimate that domestic cats kill around 1.12 million native birds annually. Responsible ownership is key, whether through Lead the Way for dogs or supporting Predator Free New Zealand for cats. Curbing a cat’s wandering involves understanding their instincts and providing enrichment. This not only safeguards birds like kiwi and tui but also protects against the spread of diseases like toxoplasmosis. Let’s be stewards of our wildlife and ensure responsible pet care.
Your article is very helpful for me after reading your article I got a lot of information my name is Elias Jaxon. I am gating information about cat your article is very fantastic.
As an ecologist I worry that too many “conservationists” do not balance the good feral cats do controlling rabbits, against their “damage”. If you remove cats before rabbits, you get the problem Mt Bruce now has: 100 rabbits/ha (higher than Central Otago, but the same as it was in the Wairarapa in 1950 when Rabbit Boards started control). Ferrets, stoats, and weasels have now increased ten-fold, and will kill all the native species we were trying to protect.
You must start pest removal from the bottom (mice, rabbits) and work up to cats last.
This information should really go out to the wider public somehow. Newspaper articles. TV adverts etc. Worth spending money on. Its HUGE issue on our Christchurch beaches and estuary.
Can you please try to get these insights published in local “newspapers” and broadsheets. Good to get them included in eg special Summer Editions at resort and holiday towns. Big problems here on the Coromandel.
Cats are the apex predator of nz wildlife and do not belong in our bush ever.
Any cat caught out in the bush is only doing one thing.The tone of this article is solely aimed at placating cat lovers from the true reality of what a real cat is.It is idiots in cities who are the real problem, and it is time to face up it.
I disagree, Graham – to the extent that some insist on seeing this issue as polarising rather than one in which commonalities of objectives (less unwanted cats) far outweigh differences, the tone of the article seems to me to be largely in the ‘predator-free’ (sic) camp. I’m a little disappointed that the first 3 points of ‘advice’ relate to cat containment, when I think most cat welfarists (as well as practical ecologists) could tell you that the primary focus has to be on de-sexing – making this mandatory, removing barriers, educating the public to see that managing the fertility of the animals in their lives is essential to good welfare outcomes – if DOC’s conservation goals relating to cats are to be achieved. While I certainly support cat containment in situations where there’s a particularly high risk to their safety, such as proximity to very busy roads, autonomy and agency are important elements of a good quality of life for all the ‘higher’ species, not just our own. So I wil not be ‘containing’ (caging) my cats, and I encourage you to predator proof your own place Graham, if native birds in your backyard are important to you, and if you really think that it’s cats (and indeed other predators) – not lack of habitat, lights, noise, chemicals, etc etc – that are preventing this.
Great article. Supporting cat and dog owners while protecting our native Taonga.
This is a very helpful article thank you. I am impressed by the supportive and practical approach with so many suggestions. Well done!