Bloody Battle: The Feral Cat Hunting Controversy Rages in New Zealand’s Countryside

Last weekend, the most recent feral cat killing competition was held in rural North Canterbury. Hunters killed a total of 370 feral cats, along with other animals such as wild boars, possums, rats, and deer. The event attracted 1,500 hunters, including 460 children accompanied by adults.

The largest feral cat weighed 6.7 kg and the hunter who killed it was awarded $608 in cash. A cash prize of $304 was also given to the contestant who killed the most feral cats, 65. Organizer Matt Bailey said that they would continue to expand the event next year and increase the prize money to make it bigger and better. Bailey explained that feral cats are a menace to native wildlife and spread diseases to livestock, which is why they need to be eradicated. He called them “the devil.”

Feral cat hunts are limited to areas at least 10km from human settlements. Many conservation groups want to include feral cats in New Zealand’s plan to eradicate pests by 2050 alongside stoats, rats, possums, and ferrets. However, the issue is sensitive in New Zealand as nearly half of households have cats as pets.