A limit on the number of cats per household is being considered in Lower Hutt.

Hutt City Council is trying to figure out how to manage the pets and may adopt a measure to only allow three per household.

Animal services regional manager Les Dalton says they're also looking at the idea of keeping cats inside or contained at night.

"It would be similar to what similar to what Wellington City Council operated in, where there is bird life sensitive areas and it would affect people bordering those particular areas."

It's also looking at options including microchipping and desexing cats.

Lower Hutt Kitten Inn owner Susan McNair takes in and rehomes up to 18 hundred cats a year.

She says regulations would need to be enforceable.

"Been going over 20 years, you'd think you'd see the numbers dropping, but their not. People are not desexing their cats, they're having kittens, and they just give them away."