Forest and Bird is backing possible moves by the Wellington City Council to stop cats from killing native wildlife.

LISTEN: Kevin Hackwell: Restricting pet cats

The council's considering tagging cats with microchips, limiting the number per household to three or less, and calling on owners to keep cats inside at night.

Wellington is the first place in the country to look at imposing strict measures, but Forest and Bird's Kevin Hackwell says similar moves are working across the Tasman..

"Most councils in Australia that have by-laws which mean their cat has to stay inside your property. If its found outside the property because its micro-chipped , they will pick it up and go to the pound - you'll have to go down to the pound to get your cat back."