Children roaming through the woods with air rifles may sound like dystopian science fiction, but it almost became a reality in New Zealand. Local children were encouraged to compete to shoot feral cats as part of an effort to reduce the population of animals that threaten the ecosystem, and raise money for the local area. Children were encouraged to shoot as many cats as possible for a cash prize of $155.

During the previous year’s event, more than 250 children killed 427 animals, mostly possums, hares and rabbits. Although the cat hunting competition was called off this year, the events in other categories will still go ahead. 

The event was canceled partly due to public outrage over the massacre, but also due to dangers to children themselves, and the potential danger to domestic cats. In addition to the cruel murder of feral cats, opponents of the competition pointed out what should be obvious, which is that there is no way to tell for sure whether a target is a feral cat or someone’s beloved pet. 

Feral cats are considered an invasive species that threaten native wildlife in New Zealand. Animal rights advocates have stressed that solutions like the cat hunting competition are not a sustainable or effective way of dealing with this issue. Critics argued that it was more about glorifying violence and teaching children to view animals as disposable objects rather than finding a long-term solution to the problem.

One such alternative solution is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), a method that has been successfully implemented in many parts of the world. TNR involves trapping feral cats, sterilizing them, and returning them to their colony. This helps to control the population of feral cats without resorting to lethal methods. It also reduces the risk of disease transmission and other negative impacts of uncontrolled feral cat populations. Another alternative is to educate the public on responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying and neutering cats. This can help to prevent feral cat populations from growing and reduce the number of cats that end up on the streets.

Shooting cats in an inhumane manner with air rifles, may also have caused them to die a more painful death. The obvious violence and suffering felt by animals was intertwined with the grave risk to children both psychologically and physically. Children were not only exposed to dangerous and violent behavior, they were also at risk of injuring themselves or others.

The competition represents a bloodthirsty and unnecessary culture of ‘Man vs Nature’ where children are encouraged from a young age to see themselves as violently dominating the environment and the creatures within it. The controversy may have prevented children from hunting cats, but it has not shut down the competition entirely. Children will hunt animals in a wanton way that will cause great psychological harm to the children and cruelty and suffering to animals.

Humans learn to designate animals like cats or other companion animals higher on a food chain, with humans at the top. We teach our children that humans are separate from animals and nature, and that only some of us have a right to live in freedom from suffering and slavery. Animal rights advocates should celebrate that this cruel event has been canceled, but be careful not to ignore that non-domestic animals remain the victims of cruel hunting and culling, and that children are being taught lessons of cruelty, not compassion.

Stray cats often cause controversy in communities because they can threaten bird populations and other vulnerable populations of local animals. Within communities, there are groups who think that violently culling cats is the answer. However research and conscience dictates that this practice is both unnecessary and cruel. There are many humane solutions that involve management and relocation of the wild cat population. Despite this, some communities still choose to kill wild cats.  

The Dutch province of Friesland is a particularly cruel example of communities turning on wild cats with violent solutions. Shooting stray cats is generally allowed under Dutch law, but every other province has moved to ban the practice. Friesland is the only province that still allows the shooting of stray cats as a population control method. 

The Animal Rights Organization Dier&Recht has called on the province of Friesland to immediately end the cruel practice of shooting and killing stray cats. The organization says that the province is relying on outdated regulations and that the decline in the bird population has little to do with stray cats. By shooting stray cats, they point out, there’s a risk someone’s beloved pet could be murdered. Not to mention the fact that shooting an animal fatally is an extremely cruel and painful way to end any animal’s life.

Other Dutch provinces use humane methods like trap, neuter and release. The cats are neutered, chipped and relocated to farms, riding schools and markets. According to the animal rights activists this practice is effective because it helps with noise complaints, as neutered cats don’t go on heat. 

When combined with efforts to involve and educate the community, TNR can also be extremely effective in promoting responsible cat ownership, so pet cats are adopted from shelters and neutered, which in time will reduce the cat population.

It is generally recognized that killing large numbers of cats in an effort to reduce the population is a dangerous, cruel and ineffective way of managing a wild cat population. The Dutch province of Friesland killed 250 cats in 2021 alone. This cruel and unconscionable practice must not be allowed to continue. To learn more about Dier&Recht’s campaign to put pressure on Friesland to stop this practice, please visit their website:  https://www.dierenrecht.nl/

https://nltimes.nl/2023/01/10/animal-rights-org-calls-friesland-stop-shooting-stray-cats