A cat slips through New Zealand’s bush after sunset, muscles low, eyes bright. The ground stays soft beneath its paws. Above, bats cling to bark. Below, birds nest close to the soil, shaped by a land that once knew no claws. By dawn, feathers lie scattered and the bush grows quiet again. This pattern has played out across islands and forests for generations. In November 2025, New Zealand decided it would no longer let the night decide. The country confirmed that feral cats will be eradicated by 2050.
When A Predator Joins The Target List
In late November 2025, feral cats were formally added to the Predator Free 2050 list. The national programme targets invasive mammals that damage native ecosystems. Rats, stoats, possums and ferrets already faced coordinated removal. Cats had remained off the list for years. That changed after consultation, research and mounting ecological evidence.
Feral cats differ from pets. They live independently of people and survive entirely through hunting. They roam farms, forests and offshore islands. Estimates suggest millions live across the country. Inclusion on the target list means control shifts from scattered local efforts to coordinated national action, supported by shared funding and research.
The decision set a clear endpoint. By 2050, feral cats are expected to disappear from the wild.
An Island Built Without Mammals
New Zealand’s wildlife evolved in near isolation. For millions of years, birds, reptiles and insects thrived without land-based mammalian predators. Many species nest on the ground. Some fly poorly. Others never learned to fly at all.
That balance shifted when humans arrived. Cats first reached the islands in the late eighteenth century aboard European ships. They returned again in the nineteenth century to control rodents and rabbits. The environment suited them. Mild weather and abundant prey allowed feral populations to spread quickly.
Unlike many predators, cats hunt even when full. Their instinct drives them to kill repeatedly. Over time, that behaviour reshaped entire ecosystems.
A Single Week That Changed The Conversation
Several incidents sharpened public attention. Near Ohakune on the North Island, feral cats killed more than 100 endangered short-tailed bats in a single week after attacking a roosting tree. On Rakiura Stewart Island, feral cats helped push the southern dotterel close to extinction.
These were not isolated cases. Across the country, feral cats prey on birds, bats, lizards, insects and eggs. They also spread toxoplasmosis, a parasite that harms marine mammals, affects people and causes losses for farmers through infected livestock.
The issue grew beyond wildlife alone. It became ecological, economic and public health related.
Support From The Public
Public consultation reflected that shift. Nearly 3,400 submissions were received during the Predator Free strategy review. More than 90 per cent supported stronger feral cat management or full inclusion on the target list.
For years, concerns about household pets slowed progress. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of cat ownership in the world. Many households consider cats family members. That attachment once kept feral cats off the list.
The consultation marked a turning point.
How Eradication Takes Shape
Adding feral cats to Predator Free 2050 does not trigger immediate nationwide action. Instead, it unlocks coordination. Groups working on feral cat control gain access to funding. Research into effective and humane tools expands. Programmes can operate at scale rather than in isolation.
Methods already exist in some regions. These include trapping followed by humane killing, automated toxin delivery systems triggered as animals pass by, and baiting with poisoned meat designed to attract feral cats. Trial programmes have shown high success rates among monitored feral cats, with controls intended to reduce risks to other wildlife.
Domestic cats remain outside the target. Responsible ownership remains part of the broader solution, including desexing, microchipping and keeping pets away from wildlife.
A Nation Still Divided
The decision reopened an old debate. Animal welfare organisations recognise the damage feral cats cause but continue to push for humane control and long-term prevention. Others argue lethal methods remain necessary where native species face immediate risk.
Past controversies still linger. Recent feral cat hunting competitions triggered public backlash and renewed concern over welfare standards. Authorities now emphasise regulated approaches under animal welfare laws rather than informal or competitive killing.
What Remains At Stake
Predator Free programmes already show results. In areas where rats, stoats and possums declined, native bird populations recovered. Forests filled with sound again. Species once rare began appearing near towns and cities.
Supporters see feral cat eradication as the most difficult step left. Critics warn of ethical costs and unintended effects. Both sides acknowledge the scale of what lies ahead.
Further details will appear in the revised Predator Free 2050 strategy, due for release in March 2026. Until then, the bush remains much the same.
At night, the forest still waits.
Published 31-Dec-2025
Photo Credit: Pexels
