Mandatory Desexing of Cats
SPCA advocates for the New Zealand Government to implement legislative requirements for companion cats to be desexed by the age of four months unless the cat is a registered breeding animal or a veterinarian has deemed this would be detrimental to the health and welfare of the cat.
The current ad hoc approach to desexing companion cats does not fully address harms to cat welfare and the problems with cat overpopulation.
Desexing companion cats can reduce the risk of certain diseases, reduce the likelihood of roaming (which can increase risks of harm such as disease and infection, injury, and becoming lost), and is associated with a longer lifespan.
Desexing companion cats can reduce the number of unplanned litters of kittens born each year who end up sick, need care, and have high rates of mortality.
Desexing companion cats can help address the negative impacts of cat overpopulation by reducing the number of unowned cats that end up needing care, prey on wildlife, spread disease, and are a source of nuisance in communities.
(see ‘Desexing’ for more information)
