To: Minister of the Environment;

CC: Shadow Minister for the Environment;

Dear Minister,

Every year thousands of native birds and animals are killed by domestic and/or feral cats. In addition, thousands of cats are abandoned each year, and many cats must be put down.

The proliferation of cats that is behind this, is primarily a result of lack of population control. The outcome is both destruction of wildlife, and a situation of abandonment or euthenasia, which is not fair, and is often cruel to cats.

Most people do not own cats in order to breed them. Many or most cats are not pure breeds, and most cat reproduction happens accidentally. Many pet cats are not spayed or castrated. People get cats from friends or pet shops, and these cats are usually not "fixed".

Most families whose pet cat has kittens attempt to give them away to friends and family. Most children wanting a kitten can find one from a friend, and many children get the idea of having a cat because their friends have kittens they are trying to give away. None of these cats are usually "fixed" when a family gets them, and often even responsible people do not get their female cats spayed until they are confronted with the fact of a litter of kittens.

There are always more kittens and cats than there are homes for them. Some are put down, some are abandoned, and some are adopted by irresponsible people who subsequently abandon them. Abandoned cats are subject to hunger and disease. Some become "alley cats" and some become "ferals". In both cases, a hungry cat will kill wildlife if it can. Even well-fed pet cats kill wildlife. Many native species are now endangered or at risk because of predation from introduced animals. Cats are not the sole culprits, but they are predators that are definitely responsible for many deaths of native animals and birds.

Organisations like the RSPCA and Animal Welfare League do the best job they can, and even so, they are forced to destroy thousands of cats per year, because they are unwanted. It is not the preferred option for these organisations, but an action they are forced to take.

We foster cats for the AWL. I love cats, and wish only that they be given a loving and secure home. The AWL only gives people cats that have been neutered. This is the responsible thing to do.

It upsets me, therefore, when I see pet shops selling kittens that have not been neutered. After paying $50 for a kitten, many parents or buyers do not immediately go out and pay another $50-100 to have their pet neutered. The result is that they are not neutered, and end up having babies. The cats we foster are mainly mothers with new litters. The kittens need to be raised to an age of about 2 months before they can be safely neutered. I'm aware of how many pregnant cats get abandoned by owners not wanting to deal with a litter of kittens. It is obvious by their nature that many of these cats have been pets.

As an environmental issue, I believe no cats should be sold without being neutered. The only exception should be licensed breeders. (This would require a licensing regime.) Cats that are given away by a family whose pet has had babies should not be penalised as long as the cats are given freely, because it would be too difficult to enforce anything else. But state and national EPAs and wildlife organisations should organise a campaign with local government to urge all those with a cat, or being given a cat, to get it neutered. It would even be a good idea for government to partially or completely subsidise neutering.

In any case, we are very upset that pet shops continue to supply litter after litter of kittens for sale, all fertile. This is really very wrong. It is wrong for the cats, and mostly it is disastrous for the wildlife and the environment. Only licensed breeders should be able to but fertile cats.

In general, the issue of cats and fertility is not one other government departments seem to take any responsibility for, believing it is outside their brief. As an issue, it is clearly within the brief of the Department of the Environment, and is your responsibility as Environment Minister. I would like to see you take a strong position on this, and work to organise both your department and other appropriate departments at all levels of government.

Please respond and tell me of your plans.

Regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]