Cats in New Zealand: Feline Conservation and Coexistence

Cats in New Zealand are not native to the country, but they've become a common sight.

The first recorded introduction of cats to New Zealand was by Polynesian settlers around the 13th century.

These early cats were likely brought over as companions or to control pests.

The first domestic cats were introduced by European settlers in the 19th century, and they quickly established feral populations.

Today, it's estimated that there are over 1 million feral cats in New Zealand.

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Feral cats are a significant threat to New Zealand's native wildlife, with many species facing extinction due to their predation.

In the Mackenzie Basin, feral cats prey on endangered black stilt/kakī, with only 30% of young birds released through captive rearing programmes surviving to adulthood.

Feral cats have also been found to kill juvenile and adult kea in areas between Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass, with up to 20% of monitored kea being killed by feral cats.

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Grand and Otago skink populations are critically low in Central Otago, largely due to cat predation, along with stoats, ferrets, and weasels.

Both feral and domestic cats are known to hunt native bats/pekapeka, with a wild cat killing over 100 endangered New Zealand short-tailed bats in just seven days near Mount Ruapehu in 2010.

Feral cats have contributed to the global or local extinction of more than 29 bird species on subantarctic Auckland Island, with evidence suggesting only 13 of the 38 native bird species remain.

Here are some examples of islands where feral cats have been removed to protect native wildlife:

It's clear that feral cats are a major threat to New Zealand's native wildlife, and efforts to control their populations are crucial to protecting these species.

Controlling feral cats in New Zealand is a tough task because they keep coming back to areas that have been controlled.

There's no single agency or set of rules to manage cats like there is for dogs.

We need national cat management legislation to help reduce the impact of cats on native wildlife.

Controlling feral cats is an ongoing battle because they reinvade controlled areas over time. This is a frustrating challenge for those who work tirelessly to manage their populations.

There are no centralised rules or legislative tools, or agency for management of cats, in the same way there are for dogs.

The lack of a coordinated approach makes it difficult to effectively manage feral cat populations. This is why a national cat management legislation is needed to decrease the impact of cats on native wildlife.

We don't support the "trap, desex, release" approach to managing stray cats because cats are predatory animals that continue to pose a threat to wildlife.

Human-cat conflicts often arise due to misunderstandings about cat behavior and body language.

Cats have a unique way of communicating, and failing to recognize these cues can lead to conflicts. For example, a cat may display a flattened ear or a tucked tail to signal stress or fear.

In some cases, cats may also exhibit aggressive behavior when they feel threatened or territorial. This can be particularly problematic in households with multiple cats.

According to a study, approximately 60% of cat owners report conflicts between their cat and other pets in the household.

In addition to conflicts with other pets, cats may also experience stress and anxiety due to changes in their environment or routine.

A common cause of stress in cats is changes in their owner's work schedule, which can lead to inconsistent feeding and care.

Some cats may become more clingy or demanding in response to these changes, while others may become withdrawn or aggressive.

If you own a cat, there are simple steps you can take to help protect New Zealand's native wildlife. Desexing and microchipping your cat can prevent unwanted breeding and ensure it's easily identifiable if it ever escapes.

Keeping your cat indoors or contained in a 'catio', especially at night, can significantly reduce its impact on native wildlife. This is because many native species are most active at night.

If you need to leave your cat for an extended period, consider putting it in a cattery. Never take your cat onto public conservation land, as this can lead to the spread of disease and the destruction of native habitats.

You can make a difference by volunteering at local animal shelters, where you can help care for abandoned pets and find them forever homes. Many shelters rely on volunteers to walk dogs, play with cats, and provide socialization.

Volunteering at food banks is another great way to help, as they often struggle to keep up with demand from those in need. You can help sort and package food donations.

If you're passionate about the environment, consider volunteering for beach cleanups or park restoration projects, which can help maintain the beauty and health of our natural spaces.

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If you own a cat, you can play a big role in supporting conservation efforts. Desexing and microchipping your cat can make a huge difference, as it helps prevent unwanted breeding and ensures your cat can be easily identified if it ever gets lost.

Keeping your cat indoors or contained inside a 'catio', especially at night, is also crucial. This simple step can help protect native wildlife from your cat's hunting instincts.

Putting your cat in a cattery when you go on holiday is another great way to support conservation. It's a safe and secure way to ensure your cat's needs are met while also preventing it from causing harm to the environment.

Here are some key actions you can take to support conservation efforts:

Feral cats have a devastating effect on native species, directly causing the extinction of at least six species of birds only found in New Zealand.

In Australia, a similar fate is playing out, with feral cats threatening the survival of over 100 native species.

Australians are passionately tackling the cat catastrophe, with a country-wide plan to reduce feral cat population numbers.

New Zealand, on the other hand, lacks a national strategy or legislation to manage cats, resulting in a lack of consistency across different regions.

Recent research shows that a majority of cat owners in New Zealand support better cat management, with 66 percent supporting microchipping and 82 percent supporting de-sexing.

Domestic cats are companionship animals that are close to 100 percent reliant on humans for food and shelter.

Domestic cats are known to kill wildlife, with Australia's almost 3.8 million pet cats killing up to 390 million animals yearly.

In New Zealand, domestic cats kill 18 million birds, bats, and bugs every year.

Domestic cats may contribute to stray and feral cat populations by escaping or breeding with feral cats.

Feral cats are 100 percent self-reliant and do not depend on humans, foraging for their food by killing and eating native animals.

Feral cats are found everywhere, including remote locations, and eat about 2 billion reptiles, birds, frogs, and mammals each year.

Stray cats are often abandoned or escaped pets with some human socialization, and are at least partially dependent on humans for survival.

Stray cats are commonly found around towns and built-up areas, and can pose a threat to native wildlife.

Domestic and stray cats are a threat to wildlife, despite their reliance on humans.

Local states and territories in Australia are focused on owner behavior, such as desexing, microchipping, and keeping cats on an owner's property 100% of the time.

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One of the most noticeable differences between introverts and extroverts is their approach to social interactions. Introverts tend to feel drained after spending time with others, while extroverts often feel energized.

Introverts typically prefer quieter environments and may feel anxious in loud or crowded spaces. They might also need time alone to recharge.

Extroverts, on the other hand, tend to thrive in social situations and often seek out new people and experiences. They may feel bored or unfulfilled if they're alone for too long.

Introverts usually prefer to think before speaking, while extroverts tend to speak first and think later. This can lead to interesting conversations, but also potential misunderstandings.

Extroverts often take risks and are more likely to try new things, whereas introverts tend to be more cautious and prefer to observe before participating.

Cats in New Zealand are divided into three main categories: domestic, stray, and feral. These categories are determined by a cat's dependence on humans.

Domestic cats are companionship animals that are almost entirely reliant on humans for food and shelter. They're often kept indoors or in a secure outdoor enclosure.

Stray cats, on the other hand, are often abandoned or escaped pets with some human socialisation. They're commonly found around towns and built-up areas, and are at least partially dependent on humans for survival.

Domestic and stray cats can still pose a threat to native wildlife, despite their reliance on humans. In fact, a parliamentary report found that Australia's almost 3.8 million pet cats kill up to 390 million animals yearly, and in New Zealand, 18 million birds, bats, and bugs end up killed by pet cats every year.

Feral cats, by contrast, are 100 percent self-reliant and do not depend on humans. They forage for their food, killing and eating native animals around them.

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In Aotearoa, there's no national strategy or legislation for cat management, making it a patchwork of inconsistent approaches.

The Department of Conservation only has the mandate to control feral cats on public conservation land.

Regional councils can introduce measures around cat management, but this is often limited to feral cats in specific areas.

Regional pest management plans focus on pests, but few include measures to control owned cats or cats across various landscapes.

Local bylaws, set by territorial authorities, focus on the nuisance to humans caused by cats, not their impact on biodiversity.

There are 61 territorial authorities in Aotearoa, each setting their own local bylaws.

Increasingly, there are calls for cats to be included in the Predator Free 2050 goal.

Cats have been a major threat to New Zealand's native wildlife since their introduction. They've become invasive species, spreading quickly and harming the native wildlife that wasn't used to predators.

Feral cats have caused six native bird species to become extinct, and over 70 local types of birds and lizards to disappear. One example is the famous Lyall's wren, which became extinct due to a population of cats.

Cats have also caused problems on other islands, such as Stewart Island / Rakiura, where they would have likely caused the extinction of the kakapo if it weren't for the birds being moved to safer islands.

Feral cats have been found to kill over 100 endangered New Zealand short-tailed bats in just seven days near Mount Ruapehu.

Here are some examples of islands where cats were removed and the native bird numbers grew:

Domestic and stray cats also pose a threat to native wildlife, killing up to 18 million birds, bats, and bugs every year in New Zealand.

People have reported seeing very large, mysterious cats in different parts of New Zealand since the late 1990s.

These "phantom cats" have been spotted in both the North and South Islands.

Some people have even claimed to see panthers near Ashburton.

However, searches by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2003 found no real proof of these big cats.

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People in New Zealand have reported seeing very large, mysterious cats since the late 1990s.

These "phantom cats" have been spotted in both the North and South Islands.

Some individuals have even claimed to see panthers near Ashburton.

Searches by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2003 found no real proof of these big cats.

These sightings have been ongoing for over two decades without any concrete evidence.

The Moberly-Jourdain incident in 1901 remains one of the most intriguing cases of a mystery sighting, with many theories attempting to explain the strange behavior of the two women.

Theories about time slips, parallel universes, and alternate realities have been proposed to explain the women's experience.

One of the most popular theories is that the women stumbled upon a parallel universe or alternate reality, where they encountered people and objects that seemed familiar but were not from their own time.

The idea of a "time slip" suggests that the women temporarily moved through time, experiencing a different era, but still returning to their own time.

Some researchers believe that the women's experience may have been caused by a rare neurological condition that affects perception and memory.

The Moberly-Jourdain incident has been extensively studied, with many researchers attempting to debunk or explain the strange occurrence.

Theories about the women's experience continue to be debated among researchers and enthusiasts, with no clear consensus on what really happened.