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. 2017 Jul 3;7(7):49.
doi: 10.3390/ani7070049.

A Survey of Public Opinion on Cat (Felis catus) Predation and the Future Direction of Cat Management in New Zealand

Jessica K Walker  1 , Stephanie J Bruce  2 , Arnja R Dale  3
Affiliations

A Survey of Public Opinion on Cat (Felis catus) Predation and the Future Direction of Cat Management in New Zealand

Jessica K Walker et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Cat predation is a prominent issue in New Zealand that provokes strong and opposing views. We explored, via 1011 face-to-face questionnaires, public opinion on (a) support for a National Cat Management Strategy (78% support); (b) concern regarding predation of wildlife by owned and un-owned cats (managed stray, unmanaged stray, and feral cats); (c) the acceptability of management techniques for owned cats; and (d) the acceptability of population management techniques for un-owned cats. The highest concern was expressed regarding the predation of non-native and native wildlife by feral cats (60 and 86% repectively), followed by unmanaged stray cats (59 and 86% respectively), managed stray cats (54 and 82% respectively), and finally owned cats (38 and 69% repectively). Limits to the number of cats owned and cat restriction zones received high levels of support (>65%), and compulsory microchipping, Council registration, and de-sexing were supported by the majority (>58%). Public support of population control methods for unowned cats was explored, and the influence of participant demographic variables on responses is described. These findings provide insight into public opinion regarding the management of cats in New Zealand, which should be considered during the development of legislation in this area.

Keywords: National Cat Management Strategy; New Zealand; cat management; cat predation; companion cat; feral cat; public opinion; stray cat.

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Conflict of interest statement

Jessica Walker is currently an employee of the New Zealand Companion Animal Council, which is a subsidiary of the New Zealand Companion Animal Trust. Jessica was not employed by the New Zealand Companion Animal Council when this research was conceived, funded, and conducted, and the funding body had no role in any aspects of the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of the data, the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results. Arnja Dale and Stephanie Bruce declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant concern about the predation of non-native and native wildlife by each sub group of cat in New Zealand.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Participant agreement to seven posited restrictions regarding companion cat ownership in New Zealand.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Participant agreement that action should be taken toward controlling each of the un-owned subgroups of cats in New Zealand.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Participant opinion as to which organisation should be responsible for the control of each subgroup of un-owned cats in New Zealand.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Participant opinion on the action that should be taken to control each subgroup of un-owned cats in New Zealand.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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