A feral cat known as "Nine Lives" has been captured and euthanized after three years of evading trappers on New Zealand’s Purerua peninsula, where it was responsible for a significant decline in populations of native wildlife. The cat, a large grey tabby, killed dozens of pātēke (brown teal)—an endangered mainland duck species thought to number only a few thousand globally—as well as kiwi chicks, geckos, and other native animals during its time roaming the area.

The Purerua peninsula, located near the northern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, has been the site of a targeted conservation project aimed at protecting and reintroducing native species. In 2023, the Pest Free Purerua initiative released 20 pātēke onto the peninsula, confident that feral cat populations were under control. However, within a week, the first of the birds was found dead. Subsequent monitoring with trail cameras identified a single cat with distinctive markings as the predator responsible for killing at least 30 pātēke over two years.

Efforts to trap the animal repeatedly fell short, earning it the moniker “Nine Lives.” Even after another release of pātēke in 2024, the same cat continued to target the birds, killing 15 more. Despite several close encounters, the cat eluded capture until late July, when it began frequenting a quarry area on consecutive nights. Conservationists laid bait such as salmon, fried chicken, and rabbit, setting up cages and traps to catch the elusive animal.

Last Friday, a camera triggered by movement confirmed that the cat had entered a trap. Trappers responded promptly and humanely euthanized the animal. Andy Mentor, a representative of Pest Free Purerua, described the outcome as a significant but hard-won success after years of frustration.

The fate of Nine Lives has sparked debate among the public. Some expressed shock and sadness over the cat being shot, while others viewed its removal as a vital victory for native species protection. Following its death, the cat’s body will be preserved and used as an educational resource to raise awareness of the threats feral cats pose to New Zealand’s unique biodiversity.

In recent developments, New Zealand’s government announced that feral cats would be incorporated into the nationwide Predator-Free 2050 initiative, which aims to eliminate invasive predators threatening native wildlife. Mentor described this inclusion as an important advancement that could support renewed efforts to restore pātēke populations on the Purerua peninsula.