In 2024, a controversial cat-culling competition took place in New Zealand, resulting in the tragic deaths of nearly 400 cats. Participants of all ages, including children as young as 14, were encouraged to take part in this gruesome event, where the goal was to kill as many feral cats as possible.
The sight of blood-covered hunters piling cat carcasses into crude cages and hanging them from poles with meathooks through their jaws was truly revolting.
Last year, this hunt introduced cats as targets for the first time, offering cash prizes to the most prolific cat-killers. This year, the carnage continued, with one participant killing 65 cats and receiving a $500 prize.
Many animals were left to suffer agonisingly slow deaths, trapped in cages and casually shot by hunters. The sheer brutality of this competition cannot be overstated. The weigh-in produced a horrifying spectacle of thousands of dead animals, so numerous that earthmovers were required to shift their corpses.
We cannot allow this to continue. The lack of empathy shown towards these defenseless animals is appalling. Can you imagine the complete disregard for life it takes to look into a caged cat’s eyes and pull the trigger?