If you are reading this then hopefully you have already read my piece about the Predator-Free New Zealand by 2050 plan. If not then I suggest you read that first, as this piece is an addendum of sorts for that article.
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| A Ferocious and Damaging Predator Credit: youtube.com |
The Issue with Cats
New Zealand has committed themselves to be completely invasive predator-free by 2050 but the bold plan is inherently flawed because it does little to address one of the most damaging invasive predators in the entire country, domesticated and feral cats. Although most cat-owners like to think of felines as nothing more than furry companions, domesticated cats are actually proficient hunters who wreak havoc upon native species. And, while most Kiwis have acknowledged the benefits of having a predator-free country for their native and vulnerable wildlife, they seem unwillingly to make a hard stand about the country's cat population. This is no small problem as New Zealand is home to 1.4 million domestic, 196,000 strays, and 14 million feral felines (statistics from stuff.co.nz), and has the most cats per capita of any country in the world.
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| A Kakapo: One of the Native Birds Threatened by Cat Predation Credit: bbc.co.uk |
A handy fact-sheet put out by the New Zealand organization Forest and Bird details the damages caused by domestic cats. According to research done by the University of Otago in Dunedin, the 1.4 million domestic cats alone kill at least 18.76 million animals a year, including 1.12 million native birds. However, this number may be a lot higher, as research in the United States found that cats often kill more animals than they bring back to "show" their owners.
Although we love cats because they are affectionate companions, we cannot ignore the ecological damage our furry friends impart on natural world. This is especially true for a country that resides on extremely fragile environments like New Zealand. Yet, the New Zealand Department of Conservation's official website on the Predator-Free initiative makes absolutely no mention of Felis catus, and the only time I heard about cats when I was researching my first piece was when the Economist reported that feral cats on public lands would be exterminated.
It is hypocritical to declare a war on invasive predators and leave out cats. Gareth Morgan, a New Zealander who has started a campaign against cats, said in an interview with the Washington Post, "We have got a concerted effort on possums, rats, mice, mustelids, but the one that stands out is cats. Everybody is too bloody PC and scared to take on cats. So I thought, I can handle that." Mr. Morgan is right, people are reluctant to discuss the issue about cats even though there are well documented cases that prove their destructive presence. For example, the single feral cat who killed 102 native bats in the space of only one week. Gareth Morgan explained how important it is to control all invasive predators, in an opinion piece, by saying, "New Zealand should be teeming with birds, we should be deafened by their calls every morning. Go to any sanctuary where predators are eliminated and watch the native bird and plant life flourish."
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| The Bat-killing Feral and its Victims Credit: doc.govt.nz |
What is to be done?
So what is to be done? Obviously the problem cannot be ignored or swept under the rug for later. Apparently the government has pledged to eradicate all feral cats on public lands but that will not be enough. Many believe that the only way to solve this problem is to get rid of all cats. It was reported earlier this year that a new group, the National Cat Management Strategy Group, has pledged to manage the millions of cats by 2025 and to eliminate the feral population. Gareth Morgan again explains how this would work:
Councils need to step up and require that cats are controlled as stringently as dogs; all of them should be registered, chipped, and neutered and the owners made responsible for ensuring they do not wander. Parts of Australia have already gone further with curfews and even cat-free zones in sensitive wildlife areas. Councils should have a policy of putting down all trapped cats that are not chipped or registered, just as we do with dogs, and citizens should be encouraged to help by using live-catch traps for cats that wander onto their properties. If some have the right to own cats then others should have a right to protect the wildlife on their propertyMr. Morgan also believes that the domestic population should be brought down to zero, although more gradually than the feral population. He merely wants all domestic cats neutered and no new cats brought into the country.
There has been obvious pushback against these ideas by cat lovers. Mr. Morgan and others who advocate for a cat-free New Zealand receive hate mail regularly, a large amount of it coming from the United States. Though other means of criticism have appeared, some scientists argue that the removal of cats from the wild would be damaging. Bruce Kornreich from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine explained how to Livescience:
It is undeniable that cats do prey on birds, and that in some cases this predation can have negative impacts on native bird populations. It is important to point out, however, that some studies have shown that birds are much more adaptable to predation than initially thought, and that, in fact, in some cases feline predation may impart a survival advantage to native bird populations by controlling rodent or other potential predator populations...New Zealand advocates, like Mr. Morgan, have pushed against Bruce Kornreich's words, saying that such phenomena do not apply to the fragile ecosystem and native species of New Zealand.
Some groups have less drastic ideas about dealing with this problem. Forest and Bird for example, suggests that cat-owners sterilize their cats, keep them inside, attach a bell to their collar, and refrain from using the pets as rat or mice control. They do not expect people to get rid of their beloved companions and point out that keeping cats inside actually improves their health. According to a Livescience article statistics, outdoor cats have one-third the lifespan of indoor cats and that indoor cats are less likely to catch diseases like rabies and parasites.
Personally, I agree with those that want all feral cats gone from the country. These cats are no one's pet or companion and, instead, are invasive predators who massacre vulnerable native species. Some may argue that there are other means of control like adoption, but considering that there are already a couple hundred thousand strays in the country, I doubt this will ever happen. I however do not agree that all cats should be removed from the country. Instead I believe that there should be extremely tight controls, like the suggestion to chip all domestic cats and the push to keep cats indoors. I know that people like cats and the thought of putting any down ignites the fire in many's bellies, but I believe that people have a responsibility to protect the land and environment that they inhabit. Just because one invasive predator is cute and friendly is not enough of a reason to let it rampage across a country.
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| A Cat and Its Victim Credit: terriermandotcom.blogspot.com |
What do you think? Feel free to respond in the comments about how you think the cat problem should be dealt with.
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