New Zealand recently unveiled a major plan: to completely eradicate¹ feral cats within its borders by 2050. This decision means that all wild cats across the country have officially been added to a "list of offenders²" that need to be eliminated.

In an interview with Radio New Zealand on Thursday, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka described feral cats as "cold-blooded killers³." He made it clear that these wild cats will be added to the target eradication⁴ list under the "Predator-Free 2050" plan, which originally included species such as stoats, ferrets, weasels, rats, and possums. The core objective of the plan is to eliminate non-native predators⁵ that threaten species like birds, bats, lizards⁶, and insects.

Previously⁷, cats were not included in the eradication list, which covered species such as stoats, ferrets, weasels, rats, and possums. However, New Zealand’s Conservation Minister Potaka announced this sudden policy shift in the interview.

This marks a clear policy shift. Potaka provided a straightforward⁸ definition for feral cats: wild animals that do not depend on humans for survival. "They survive by killing," he stated firmly.

As for the specific eradication methods, Potaka revealed several options currently under consideration: for example, using poisoned sausages or installing devices on trees that spray poison when feral cats pass by.