New Zealand's Aggressive Plan to Eliminate 2.5 Million Feral Cats by 2050 to Save Native Wildlife

New Zealand Declares War on Feral Cats, Aims to Eradicate 2.5 Million "Stone Cold Killers" by 2050

New Zealand has announced an ambitious plan to eliminate approximately 2.5 million feral cats across the country by 2050 to safeguard its vulnerable native wildlife populations.

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has officially designated feral cats as "stone cold killers" and confirmed their addition to the Predator Free 2050 initiative, a comprehensive conservation program launched in 2016 targeting invasive species that endanger New Zealand's indigenous birds, bats, lizards, and insects.

Unlike domestic cats, feral cats are wild predators that exist independently of human care, sustaining themselves entirely through hunting. Potaka emphasized the necessity of controlling their numbers to preserve New Zealand's unique biodiversity, which includes numerous species that exist nowhere else on the planet.

The devastating impact of these feral predators is well-documented. In one particularly alarming incident, over 100 short-tailed bats were killed by feral cats in a single week near Ohakune on the North Island. Additionally, these predators have driven the southern dotterel bird on Stewart Island to the brink of extinction.

These wild felines, which can grow up to 1 meter long including their tails and weigh up to 7 kilograms, have established populations throughout New Zealand's forests and offshore islands. "Feral cats are now found across Aotearoa New Zealand, from farms to forests, and they put huge pressure on native birds, bats, lizards and insects," Potaka stated.

Beyond their hunting impact, feral cats pose additional threats as carriers of toxoplasmosis, a disease that can harm dolphins, affect human health, and cause significant financial losses to farmers by infecting livestock.

Potaka was careful to clarify that the eradication program specifically targets wild feral cats, not domestic pets. "New Zealand is full of proud cat owners, and domestic pets are not part of this Predator Free target," he assured the public.

The Predator-Free 2050 initiative, led by the New Zealand government, has already achieved success in targeting other invasive species including ferrets, stoats, weasels, rats, and possums. "For the first time, a predator is being added to the list and will join other mammals," Potaka noted, adding that removing feral cats will enhance biodiversity, preserve heritage landscapes, and maintain New Zealand's distinctive ecological identity.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is currently testing innovative control methods, including a meat-based bait system. Their approach involves first using harmless bait to attract the cats, followed by poisoned bait containing 1080, a chemical already employed against other pests. However, this strategy has sparked controversy due to potential risks to non-target animals.

The DOC is developing comprehensive strategies to reduce feral cat populations and plans to release a detailed implementation plan by March 2026.