For those with a cat/s - WWYD?

ilovemybaby wrote: On the news recently they were talking about cats and how someone in NZ is trying to/thinking about trying to get a law introduced that would mean each household could only have 1 cat.
WDYT and what would you do?

We have 3 cats and I cannot see how they could live with themselves. I would be devastated. Having to choose which 2 to get rid of. And what would happen to them? KWIM?
Personally, I think I'd be starting a petition and if anyone came to my door and tried to take 2 I would say over my dead body. I would NOT let them take them. Even if I had to keep them inside with a dirt box so no one could come during the night or when I'm not home and take them.

I doubt this would ever be made a law... just wondering what you all think.

Even if I had to hide them... and hide all cat related items eg food, bowls, cat baskets etc... I would do it.

b&bsmom replied: there is no way. I have 2 cats and they are brothers from the same litter. Mine are indoor cats and never go out. Why would they need to pass a law like that. I don't understand it personally. There is no way my guys would like to be without the other. I also think it is easier when you have two. We had two before and one died so we ended up getting the two kittens and then a month or so later our other older cat died so now we are back to two. I was happy we got two because they have each other to play with. I also feel if they made a law like that which I don't think willl happen it would be grandfathered in that if you already own more than one you wouldn't have to get rid of any.

na81 replied: I guess I'd be a lucky one because I only have 1 cat! I don't know what I would do if I had more than one, I definately wouldn't let them take them!! Why would it matter to anyone else how many cats you have? I don't understand!! That would be a tough choice for anyone with multiple cats though!! Let's just hope it doesn't become a law huh?

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Wow that just sounds like a crazy law.
Luckily we only have one cat but I would be pretty upset if some one made me get rid of a family pet.


Maybe they are thinking of people who have soo many cats that they cant take care of them all

kit_kats_mom replied: I'm not quite the animal lover I used to be. Don't get me wrong. I still like pets but I now have a greater understanding of their place in my life.

That said. I've always had single cats. They did fine. I am guessing that NZ is considering this idea because it is an island nation and it could easily become overrun with cats if something isn't done to control their population. Something like a feral cat could conceivably have a very negative impact on the native vegetation, birds and other small animals. They are hunters and they do breed like mad if not spayed and neutered.

In Hawaii, the mongoose was introduced to control the rat (or snake can't remember the specifics, it's been almost 20 years since I was there) populations. Now they have a mongoose problem. Those little critters are everywhere, like squirrels in most American neighborhoods.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Did they say what the reasoning is behind the law? It seems odd to me that they would even consider such a thing. I can see the need for a limit in some cases, but no reason why the limit should be so low. Lots of people have 2 or 3 or even more cats without any problem.

MamaJAM replied: Well - I'd be bothered by a law limiting the number of cats (or dogs, etc) I was allowed to have. I can understand if they want to require licenses for cats (here we need to get a license for any/all dogs every year - but not for cats).

Years ago - we lived in an apartment and had 3 cats. The apartment complexe changed the rules limiting the number of cats anyone was allowed to have to 1 cat. We were told to either get rid of 2 of our cats - or find a new place to live. It was hard - but we weren't ready to move so we got rid of 2 of the cats. A month later they refused to renew our lease anyway and we did have to move after all (of course it was too late to go and get our cats back ). Choosing to get rid of the two cats was very hard (though we knew which one we had to keep -- because he was DD's cat)....but we felt it best at the time. If I had known they were going to make us move anyway - I definately would have kept the cats....but I would never have been able to 'hide' them if we had stayed.

ilovemybaby replied:
Yes I think it's to do with cats killing native birds mainly those that are endangered? Anyway, IMO every animal has a place on this earth. Otherwise God wouldn't have made them. And I think a dog could kill a native bird too so why are they just blaming it all on cats? I know dogs probably don't bother with birds because they go for rabbits and bigger animals but I still don't think it's right.
Surely there are other animals that are endangered and they aren't going and killing off the animals responsible for killing those. Tigers are endangered but we don't go killing the people that are responsible for killing them. And Elephants... we are not going around killing the people that hunt them for their tusks.


As someone said... hopefully it would not apply to those already owning two or three cats. I could get rid of one... but then Paul would be upset because it's his cat. KWIM? I only wanted two and he brought Kitty home and said "but he's so cute can't we keep him?!" The other two are my babies. If I had to part with two I would give Kitty to someone we know that doesn't have a cat and the same with Mischief. I couldn't give them to the SPCA and be upset and worrying about if they'd find a home for them or put them down

ilovemybaby replied:
I'm sorry to hear that. I know how hard it would have been.

ilovemybaby replied: Also ... I've never seen an endangered native bird in this area. Never. Maybe a Tui but I don't think they are endangered. We get Pukekos but I highly doubt our cat could kill one of those big things LOL And they are definitely not on the endangered list.
The only things our cats bring us are rats, mice, sparrows or goldfinches and we've had half an Eel and parts of baby wild rabbit (they are definitely not endangered ) and one time we had a couple of ducklings I was a bit upset about the ducklings because I know they are protected except for when it's hunting season. Thankfully no more ducklings since. Our house has a reserve/park right behind it and a little lake with some ducks.

Brias3 replied: I'm not currently a petowner but if I had one or more, I can imagine being particularly attached. Most people I know with dogs or cats regard them as part of the family. I think such a rule would kind of be silly, especially for house cats. If there were such a law for those who have animals who have caused a problem or are in some way negatively affecting the community they live in then it might make sense but for someone who has housecats and keeps them under watch, I don't see the problem in having a couple.

Maybe this whole thing is stemming off the stories about people who have like 50 some cats under one roof who are being neglected, etc. etc. I don't know! Haven't heard of this law yet.

ilovemybaby replied: As far as I know there are not many people in NZ that have heaps of cats. I saw one on a NZ program called "Animal House" once. She had about 20 or 30 but they were strays she was feeding and not taking care of otherwise. The SPCA came to her home and took all but one cat (with her consent). They were all pretty sick. With snuffles and things like that. Not desexed of course.
Our neighbour right next door feeds about 10 strays. I don't like it because it only encourages them. The SPCA tell us not to feed strays. Wild cats manage... they catch birds and mice. So we sometimes get male cats hanging around our home and they will spray on stuff if we leave it outside GRRR I just recently saw a couple of white cats eating dirt next door They must have been REALLY hungry.

I think if they made a law like this it would probably (hopefully) only apply to those with cats living in bush area or in areas where the endangered birds are. There wouldn't be much point them making it law everywhere when there are cities with no bush around for miles and cats living in apartments etc... they are not exactly a threat to wildlife.