Cat activists are desperately forking out tens of thousands of dollars to desex and microchip strays

It comes as the number of cats euthanised under Auckland's contentious new pest management plan hits 88.

The culling of cats found without microchips in "ecologically sensitive areas" of the Auckland region is a controversial component of Auckland Council's Regional Pest Management Strategy.

Animal activists such as Tthe Cat Foundation's Julie-Anne Luckens are fearful unchipped domestic cats are at risk of being rounded up, so they're trapping street cats and taking them to the vet.

She says they need to trap every cat that needs desexing and check them for their health.