A feral cat dubbed “Nine Lives” has been shot dead after a three-year hunt on New Zealand’s Purerua Peninsula, ending a predation spree that devastated a critically endangered bird population. The gray tabby, known for distinctive markings and erratic movements, is believed to have killed dozens of pāteke, or brown teal — representing roughly 1% of the species’ total mainland population — along with kiwi chicks, native geckos, and other wildlife.
The predator first appeared shortly after conservationists from the Pest Free Purerua project released 20 captive-bred pāteke onto the peninsula. Within a week, one bird was found mangled. The death toll climbed quickly, but capturing the cat proved exceptionally difficult. Andy Mentor, project manager for Pest Free Purerua, described the animal’s behavior as deeply unpredictable. It would appear at a location, then vanish for two or three months, active at all hours without a discernible pattern. The cat evaded traps, cameras, and tracking efforts for years, earning its nickname.
In 2024, project managers released another 20 pāteke in a bid to bolster the population. The cat killed 15 of them. The loss intensified pressure on the team, which expanded its trapping network and deployed night cameras. The breakthrough came when the cat returned to the same spot three consecutive nights. Conservationists set cages baited with salmon, fried chicken, and rabbit. The cat entered a trap and was captured.
What followed sparked immediate controversy. Instead of relocating the animal, trappers “humanely shot” it on site. Conservationists argued the risk of escape was too great for the remaining vulnerable wildlife. The cat’s stomach contents will be analyzed, and its body will be preserved through taxidermy.
The decision drew sharp criticism from animal welfare advocates, who argued the cat could have lived in captivity, potentially in a zoo where its notoriety would draw visitors. Social media comments questioned why a caged animal was killed rather than contained. Conservationists have not publicly addressed the specific reasoning behind the lethal option, but the project’s focus remains on protecting native species that have no defense against introduced predators.
The episode underscores the brutal calculus of island conservation in New Zealand, where introduced mammals have driven countless native species to extinction. For now, the peninsula’s remaining pāteke have one less threat, but the debate over methods — and the moral weight of killing one animal to save many — continues.
