NZ’s Feral Cat Dilemma: An Honest Conversation (with John Bissell)

Written By Callum Armstrong

  • It’s been estimated that more than 2.5 million feral cats call Aotearoa NZ home.

    2.5 million! 

    That's big numbers, making them a growing problem and an increasing threat…

    These aren’t your typical domestic house cat. They are wild animals, and they’re having a devastating impact on our native wildlife.

    "Comparing a feral cat to a domestic cat is like comparing a wolf to a Labrador"

    Feral cats predate on all kinds of taonga species - from lizards to bats to kiwi - and their numbers are increasing every year. In one documented case, a single feral cat killed 107 endangered short-tailed bats in just two weeks.

    And their impact extends far beyond predation events, affecting everyday lives through attacks on pet cats, toxoplasmosis in livestock, and even further endangering Māui dolphins through disease transmission.

    So, what’s stopping us from solving this problem? There are many reasons, but our emotional connection to pet cats is a big one.

    In this episode of the People Helping Nature Podcast, John Bissell, owner of Backblocks Environmental Management and National Predator Control Advisor for Save the Kiwi, shares a balanced perspective on the feral cat debate in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

    While John strongly supports people's right to own pet cats, he draws a clear distinction between domestic companions and their wild counterparts.

  • Here are some of the things we discussed in this illuminating chat:

    • The definition of feral cats vs. domestic pet cats.

    • How trail camera footage reveals what many don't see: feral cats are everywhere in our landscape.

    • How feral cats decimate endangered species populations.

    • Feline toxoplasmosis impacts on farming and marine mammals.

    • Respectful approaches to feral cat control in areas with pet cats present.

    • How human emotion shapes our approach to different predator species.

    • Tips for conservation groups on how to navigate the feral cat topic with respect.

    • The need for a national approach to domestic and feral cat management.

    • And much more...

  • John Bissell is the owner of Backblocks Environmental Management Ltd, and he is also the National Predator Control Advisor for Save the Kiwi. John is adamant that removing introduced predators to protect one species, like kiwi, also benefits many other native species at place.

    John’s main area of mahi is in predator control and threatened species protection. His speciality is in finding and removing the one hard-to-get predator in a large landscape, and he has a good number of successful resolutions under his belt. The lessons he has learned ‘chasing one’, have also helped him shape new methods and tricks to help him catch more. 

    As well as boots-on-the-ground delivery, John’s role is increasingly centred around supporting and training people and projects in this line of work, and he is equally passionate about this side of his mahi. John refers to himself as a NZ predator hunter and he will happily tell story after story of the many other good people out there doing the same.

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  • The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make biodiversity conservation mainstream.

    We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution.

    Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

    🔗Connect with us:

Callum Armstrong
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