Feral Cats
SPCA acknowledges that feral cats are considered a pest under New Zealand law and recognises the need to act on ecological and conservation concerns where predation is likely to be a serious problem. Our organisation opposes methods of killing feral cats which do not result in a humane death.
In many places in New Zealand, feral cats are considered a pest under the Biosecurity Act 1993. If population management of feral cats is considered justified, SPCA advocates that this must be done with the most humane method.
Feral cats are different from stray cats and owned companion cats in their behaviour and interactions with humans. Feral cats are unsocialised with people and are not suitable to rehome as companion animals. Feral cats do not rely on human activity to survive, are generally located in remote areas away from human habitation, and their population is self-sustaining.
