Get that good info.
Helpful information, tools, and guidance to support humane and effective cat management that protects both cats and New Zealand’s unique wildlife.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which relies on cats to reproduce. Cats shed the parasite’s eggs (oocysts) in their faeces, usually only once when they’re young.
Most people become infected by eating undercooked contaminated meat, not through contact with cats. While most infections cause no symptoms, the disease can be serious for people with weakened immune systems.
Oocysts can wash into waterways and survive for months, posing a risk to marine animals like Hector’s and Māui dolphins. The parasite also affects farmed animals and wildlife, especially pregnant animals, leading to miscarriages and productivity loss.
Human Behaviour Change
Positive change for cats begins with each of us taking small steps towards our goal. To achieve lasting change, we need to understand human behaviour and when needed, how to change it.
By recognising what motivates people and applying behaviour change principles, we can tackle complex issues that impact animals.
All cats - feral, stray, and companion - pose risks to vulnerable species. For roaming companion cats, responsible ownership, including keeping cats safe and happy at home, is a behaviour change that can prevent injuries and accidents, and helps protect Aotearoa's precious native species.
Research Gaps
How we decide to manage cats needs to be based on research and evidence. Some of this comes from overseas, and is applicable here, such as understanding how cats respond to restrictions on roaming, indoor living, and what their behavioural needs are.
Given our unique ecosystem, Aotearoa has some bespoke requirements as well, meaning there are still many research gaps that we'd love to have addressed. Some of these are contained within the 2025 NCMG Report - get in touch if there are other things you think we need to know about cats in Aotearoa!
NZ Research
Here are a few recent and relevant New Zealand research papers. Keep checking back or sign up below to get an update about new papers. The list of New Zealand research from the 2025 NCMG Report is not exhaustive.
Management of cats in Aotearoa New Zealand: A review of current knowledge and research needs.
Glen, A. S., Edwards, S., Finlay-Smits, S., Jones, C., Niebuhr, C., Norbury, G. L., & Samaniego, A. (2023). Management of cats in Aotearoa New Zealand: A review of current knowledge and research needs. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 47(1), Article 3550. https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.47.3550
Predation and risk behaviors of free-roaming owned cats in Auckland, New Zealand via the use of animal-borne cameras.
Bruce, S. J., Zito, S., Gates, M. C., Aguilar, G., Walker, J. K., Goldwater, N., & Dale, A. (2019). Predation and risk behaviors of free-roaming owned cats in Auckland, New Zealand via the use of animal-borne cameras. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6, Article 205. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00205
A retrospective study of native wild birds and reptiles admitted to three New Zealand wildlife hospitals due to predation by cats.
Gartrell, B. D., Jolly, M., Yissink, K., Argilla, L. S., & Esam, F. (2023). A retrospective study of native wild birds and reptiles admitted to three New Zealand wildlife hospitals due to predation by cats. New Zealand Veterinary journal, 71(2), 86-91. https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2022.2152889
Intensive adoption as a management strategy for unowned, urban cats: A case study of 25 years of Trap-Assess-Resolve (TAR) in Auckland, New Zealand.
Calver, M., C., Crawford, H. M., Scarff, F. R., Bradley, J. S., Dormon, P., Boston, S., & Fleming, P.A. (2022). Intensive adoption as a management strategy for unowned, urban cats: A case study of 25 years of Trap-Assess-Resolve (TAR) in Auckland, New Zealand. Animals, 12, Article 2301. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12172301
Other Research
Research form other countries, with different ecological systems, colony management strategies, social science regarding people's attitudes to cats, and research on cats living safe and happy at home are all relevant to the NCMG Report.
Some interesting papers are found below and the button has a list of all the other research that was used in the 2025 NCMG Report. Get amongst it! And get in touch if you have other research to share.
The implications of policies on free-roaming cat welfare
Sumner, C. L., Walker, J. K., & Dale, A. D. (2022). The implications of policies on free-roaming cat welfare. Animals, 12(3), Article 237. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030237
Categorisation of cats: Managing boundary felids in Aotearoa New Zealand and Britain
Palmer, A., & Thomas, V. (2023). Categorisation of cats: Managing boundary felids in Aotearoa New Zealand and Britain. People and Nature, 5(5), 1539-1551. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10519
'I want you to want me': How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment.
Ovenden, K., Bassett, I., & Sumner, C. L. (2024). 'I want you to want me': How owners value cats' choices has implications for cat containment. People and Nature, 6(2), 548-561. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10580
Cat ownership and proximity to significant ecological areas influence attitudes towards cat impacts and management practices.
Bassett, I., McNaughton, E. J., Plank, G. D., & Stanley, M. (2020). Cat ownership and proximity to significant ecological areas influence attitudes towards cat impacts and management practices. Environmental Management, 66(30), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01289-2