Code of Welfare for Companion Cats issued

Cat

All cat owners will be interested in the minimum standards of care and recommended best practice outlined in the Animal Welfare Companion Cats Code of Welfare 2007.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cat ownership in the world. Cats are the most commonly owned companion animal, with an estimated 900,000 to 1,500,000 kept as loved and loving companions. The Companion Cats Code recognises that a responsible attitude to the care and handling of cats is essential to provide for their welfare.

The Code, issued on 1 March, applies to everyone responsible for the welfare of cats. It affirms current good practice, sets out minimum standards of care for the physical, health and behavioural needs of cats and recommends best practice.

The Code is full of practical information. Eleven minimum standards cover food and feeding, body condition, water, caged cats, hygiene, removal of kittens from the queen, signs of ill health, injured cats, use of collars, transportation and euthanasia.

Ownership of a cat should be a commitment for the entire life of the animal. The Companion Cats Code is intended to encourage all those responsible for the welfare of cats to exceed the 11 minimum standards and adopt recommended best practices in care and handling.

The Companion Cats Code was issued by the Minister of Agriculture on the recommendation of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC). The code was drafted by a group appointed through the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC) and reviewed by representatives of animal welfare organisations, cat colony management groups, breeders, local councils and veterinarians. NAWAC undertook public consultation before finalising its recommendation to the Minister.

To download the Companion Cats Code:

There are cats and there are cats

For the purposes of the Code, the cat population is divided into three biologically distinct categories:

  • Companion cat - a domestic cat or kitten that lives with humans and is dependent on humans for its welfare.
  • Stray cat - a companion cat that is lost or abandoned.
  • Feral cat - a cat that is not a stray and is not dependent on humans for its needs.

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Page last updated: 30 April 2008