New Zealand: New Zealand has officially added feral cats to its Predator-Free 2050 programme, a major move aimed at protecting some of the country’s most threatened wildlife. Conservation minister Tama Potaka announced the decision, calling feral cats one of the biggest dangers to native species.
Threat to Wildlife
More than 2.5 million feral cats live across New Zealand’s forests and offshore islands. Some grow as long as a metre, including their tail, and can weigh up to 7 kilograms.These cats have caused severe damage. On Rakiura, Stewart Island, they have hunted the Southern dotterel to the brink of extinction. Near Mount Ruapehu, they have wiped out native bats.
Potaka said the country must remove these killers if it wants to restore biodiversity. Feral cats now join predators such as stoats, ferrets, rats, and possums under a coordinated national eradication plan. Detailed strategies will be revealed in March 2026.
Adding feral cats to the predator list has long been controversial. When environmentalist Gareth Morgan launched his Cats to Go campaign in 2013, many New Zealanders reacted with shock. A competition that encouraged children to shoot feral cats also caused public outrage.
But attitudes are changing. The Department of Conservation says 90 per cent of recent public feedback supported including feral cats in the national strategy or improving their control.
Domestic Cats Not Included
Pet cats are not part of the eradication plan, but they remain a concern. New Zealand has one of the world’s highest rates of cat ownership, and regulations differ across regions.
The National Cat Management Group, along with the SPCA, urges owners to keep their pets indoors under the message Every cat in a lap. They also want national rules requiring microchipping and desexing to reduce the number of unwanted cats ending up in the wild.
SPCA scientific officer Christine Sumner said the organisation understands the threat feral cats pose but wants more funding for humane control methods, as most current measures involve killing the animals.
Conservation groups and animal welfare advocates agree that better laws are needed to manage cats nationwide. Morgan welcomed the decision to finally target feral cats, calling it overdue. He said strong policies must now follow to turn this plan into reality. New Zealand’s goal is bold: to protect its unique birds and wildlife by removing one of their biggest predators.
