The government has announced that feral cats will be added to the Predator Free 2050 list of target species.
Read the full media release from government here and from DOC here.
Feral cats are one of the most successful predators in our environment - feeding on rabbits, birds, eggs, rodents lizards, bats, wētā, and other invertebrates.
Numerous studies have documented the devastating effects that feral cats have on native species, such as:
- In 2020, a feral cat caught in Canterbury had 17 skinks in its stomach.
- In 2010, a feral cat in Ohakune killed 107 bats/pekapeka in just one week.
- From 2019 to 2021, feral cats caused the death of 20% of monitored kea in Arthur's Pass.
Difficulties arise in controlling feral cats due to social pressures from communities, a need to safeguard domestic pets, and blurry lines around ownership of stray cats in communities.
If you own a cat, you can help protect our taonga species by:
- desexing and microchipping your cat
- keeping your cat indoors or contained inside a 'catio'
- putting your cat in a cattery when you go on holiday
- never taking them onto public conservation land.