The number of feral cats is less clear, but in 2016 the National Cat Management Strategy Group referred to a study estimating it could be as high as 2.5m.Įstimates show there are about 1.1m domestic cats in the country, according to the NZ Veterinary Association. NZ Veterinary Association small animal manager Lorelle Barrett said estimates showed there were about 1.1 million domestic cats in New Zealand, and almost 200,000 stray cats - cats that are socialised to humans but don't have a home. "It's amazingly quick from one mother they can produce another 12 kittens over a season, and then if you multiply that out, then by the end of four years it's another 2100 kittens that could be around and not have a good home." She said the cat population could mushroom fast, and desexing pet cats was the best way to ensure there were enough good homes for kittens. "Unfortunately a kitten is quite a big commitment - they can live for 18 years, so people need to be really responsible and think 'can I commit to having an animal as part of our family for all that time?'." "Often there's a really big surplus of kittens, and Christmas is a really good time to think 'oh, lets just give someone a kitten'," Midgen said.
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