Wellington City Council and the SPCA have revealed a snip n' chip programme to desex and register the city's cats.

A cut-price deal to neuter, chip and register cats is set to boost Wellington's efforts to become a predator-free city.

The Snip'n'Chip initiative, developed by the SPCA and Wellington City Council and funded by a one-off bequest, will drop the cost to just $9 for a process that can cost up to $135.

Eight vet practices in the city, as well as the SPCA, will launch the service tomorrow in Civic Square. It will run until December 15, in which time it hopes to treat as many as 1000 cats.

CAMERON BURNELL/ FAIRFAX NZ Vet Eve Falconer with Baxter, an already desexed 8-year-old egyptian sphinx who was visiting Pet Doctors in Thorndon. She said of the cut-price scheme: "I think it's an awesome idea and we were excited to hear it was happening. It's very important."

SPCA veterinarian practice manager Adele Hawkswell said the reduced price was made possible by a bequest to the society.

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"It was made to us to use specifically for desexing awareness and campaigning, and we are looking to take advantage of this great opportunity in the best way we can."

ROSS GIBLIN/ FAIRFAX NZ Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown is delighted by the programme. "I know some people might be worried about the cost, so this is a great opportunity."

Regular desexing and micro-chipping costs $135 for female cats and $75 for males. Snip'n'Chip offers chipping and registering for just $4, and desexing will cost $5 more. For $12, owners can have their cats collected, chipped, registered, desexed and returned home.

The micro-chipping fee is being met by the Wellington City Council, after councillors voted unanimously in August to adopt revised animal bylaws that include the compulsory microchipping of cats.

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MAARTEN HOLL/ STUFF Wellington City Council environment committee chairwoman has hailed the initiative as "an absolute bargain".

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said yesterday: "I'm delighted this programme is getting under way.



"It is also great timing for people with the [council] microchipping bylaw coming into force in 18 months.

"I know some people might be worried about the cost, so this is a great opportunity."

AIMING FOR 1000 CATS

Council environment committee chairwoman Iona Pannett said Snip'n'Chip was an "absolute bargain".



"I hope all Wellington people who don't have their cats desexed or microchipped take full advantage of this."

Hawkswell said: "There is no point desexing an animal if we are not micro-chipping as well, and equally there is no point micro-chipping if there is no desexing."

She hoped a significant number of cat owners would take advantage of a programme available in the capital for a first time.

"We are removing what can be huge cost barrier for people and we think this will be particularly valuable to people on fixed incomes, retired people especially, who often rely on their pets for companionship.

"It's a trial but we are aiming for 1000 felines. That's a nice round target, but it's based on the population we have here too."

At Pet Doctors in Thorndon, which is taking part in the scheme, senior vet Eve Falconer said: "I think it's an awesome idea and we were excited to hear it was happening."

The programme will also offer advice on keeping cats inside at certain times of the day, feeding them before they go out, and and having them wear bells on their collars.

"This is motivated by the reason that, in Wellington, we're privileged to have native birds in our backyards and so we're looking to have as much harmony as possible," Hawkswell said.

"We want to help owners to provide the best life for their cats and to do this we want to reduce the number of unwanted kittens and help lost cats find their way back home."