Children as young as 14 participate in feral cat-killing competition, leaving over 300 animals dead

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Published Jul 3, 2024 at 12:36 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

59395

A controversial competition in rural New Zealand that resembles a real-life Hunger Games, with feral cats as the targets, has dominated headlines after roughly 340 animals were killed—approximately 100 more than last year’s event.

The annual North Canterbury fundraising event, which wrapped up on Sunday 30 June 2024, allows both children and adults to hunt deer, pigs, ducks, possums, rabbits, and, since 2023, feral cats. This recent inclusion has understandably sparked a furious backlash from animal rights activists.

Feral and domestic cats pose a serious threat to New Zealand’s biodiversity, preying on endangered native birds, lizards, bats, and insects. However, controlling their population is a contentious issue in a country where nearly half of all households own a cat. Conservation groups frequently call for feral cats to be included in New Zealand’s ambitious pest-eradication plan, which aims to eliminate all possums, rats, stoats, and ferrets by 2050.

According to The Times, this year, over 1,500 people participated in the North Canterbury event, including approximately 440 children under 14. Animal rights activists condemned the competition, arguing that it is cruel, desensitises children to violence, and puts domestic cats at risk.

However, event organiser Matt Bailey said the feline category was created to help manage feral cats, which threaten native wildlife and carry diseases that endanger farmers’ livestock, stating: “These are possessed by the devil or the like the devil on methamphetamine. These are feral wild beasts. They will try and attack you, if you get your hand near the cage, they will try and have you, you can see the evil in their eyes.”

A $500 cash prize is awarded to the hunter with the most cats killed, while the largest cat caught earns $1,000.

As reported by The Guardian, protesters from the Animal Save Movement attended the event and were confronted by young people in animal costumes mocking them as the ‘Animal Slay Movement.’

“There is nothing conservative about encouraging children to kill animals,” said Sarah Jackson, a protester who noted that attendees even attempted to throw dead possums at them.

Bailey, however, remained unphased by the criticism, explaining that rural children grow up in an environment where hunting is a part of life, and the competition follows strict guidelines to ensure domestic cats are not targeted. Feral cats must be trapped first to confirm their status before being humanely killed with a minimum of a .22 rifle. Hunting is restricted to non-residential areas, with traps set at least 10km away. Bailey also insisted that feral cats are easy to distinguish from domestic ones due to their aggressive behaviour when caged.

The event raised roughly $60,000 for a local school and community pool this year, and venison from the deer hunt was processed and donated to food banks.

Both hunters and animal rights groups agree on the need for responsible cat ownership, emphasising that individuals should neuter their cats to prevent unplanned breeding and the abandonment of unwanted litter.

Keep On Reading

By Sam Wareing

A tiger stalked and killed a poacher for hunting its family before the viral elephant incident

By Sam Wareing

Shiny hunting: Inside the community of players who dedicate their time to catching rare Pokémon

By Alma Fabiani

Ghost hunter tells all on top tricks paranormal TV shows use to fool both viewers and victims

By Eliza Frost

Skibidi, tradwife, and delulu are among new words added to Cambridge Dictionary for 2025

By Eliza Frost

Is the princess treatment TikTok trend the bare minimum or a relationship red flag?

By Eliza Frost

Why isn’t Sylvanian Drama posting on TikTok? Here’s the legal tea

By Eliza Frost

Kendall Jenner reveals plans to quit Kardashian fame for a normal job

By Charlie Sawyer

Michael Cera reveals why he turned down a role in the Harry Potter franchise

By Charlie Sawyer

The #MeToo movement is at risk. How the Harvey Weinstein retrial risks doing unimaginable damage 

By Eliza Frost

Will Belly choose herself in the final episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty?

By Eliza Frost

Hailey Bieber’s new hands-free lip tint holder has everyone divided 

By Eliza Frost

Did Katy Perry just confirm relationship with ex-Canadian PM Justin Trudeau?

By Charlie Sawyer

Sabrina Carpenter accused of centering men on controversial album cover

By Charlie Sawyer

Another female influencer has been punched in the head in New York. Is it the same attacker?

By Charlie Sawyer

Trump administration announces plan to offer US immigrants $1,000 to self-deport

By Charlie Sawyer

SHEIN faces fines from EU for deceiving customers with fake discounts and misleading information

By Eliza Frost

Controversial American Apparel owner just opened LA Apparel in NYC and TikTok girlies are flocking to shop

By Eliza Frost

Do artists really owe us surprise guests at gigs, or are our expectations out of control?

By Eliza Frost

American Eagle and Sydney Sweeney face backlash with employee’s LinkedIn post adding fuel to the fire

By Eliza Frost

Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks