Two kiwi birds engaged in a fight during daylight hours, offering a rare glimpse into the territorial behaviour of the elusive, nocturnal birds. Video / Karin Matthews
A family cat was found dead in a feral cat trap placed in Te Atatū.
The trap allegedly used was a Steve Allan Feral Cat Trap. Trap use is restricted in New Zealand under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
The SPCA is investigating the incident and has taken the deceased cat into its possession.
A beloved family cat was found dead with his head crushed in a feral cat trap, placed in a West Auckland suburb.
Mother of five Stevie Paton’s rescue cat, Tui, went missing on Saturday in Te Atatū and was found dead on Monday after a frantic community search.
Paton toldthe Herald that she had a bad feeling when Tui didn’t come home for dinner and decided to contact her neighbour on Monday morning to ask if they had seen Tui and her other cat Libby, who had been missing for three weeks.
A beloved family cat was found dead with his head crushed in a feral cat trap. Photo / Facebook
“I couldn’t get him out of the trap, it was so strong, that I had to call my partner, we couldn’t do it so we had to leave Tui in the trap.”
Paton compared the tough spring used to one on a trampoline.
On Monday, March 31 at 2.20pm Helping Paws foster mum and adopter Stevie Paton found her cat dead with his head crushed in a brutal-looking "feral cat trap". Photo / Facebook
The trap that allegedly killed Tui is a Steve Allan Feral Cat Trap (SA2). The trap is designed to instantly kill feral cats, and its use is restricted in New Zealand. Photo / Facebook
The trap that allegedly killed Tui is a Steve Allan Feral Cat Trap (SA2) the trap is designed to instantly kill feral cats.
The trap listing on MPI’s website states it is humane for feral cats but not possums, hedgehogs and rats.
“Kill traps are not recommended in areas where domestic cats are present”, a DoC trapping guide states.
In New Zealand, trap use is regulated by the Animal Welfare Act 1999. An individual or group could be prosecuted for using trapping or killing methods that do not comply with the act.
Alan Wilson, SPCA national inspectorate manager, said, “We can confirm that the SPCA has received a complaint in relation to this incident. We also confirm that a deceased cat has been taken into our possession, and our inquiries are ongoing. Therefore, we are unable to comment further.”
Founder of the New Zealand Cat Foundation, Anne Batley-Burton, says people who view cats as pests are getting their hands on these traps and using them illegally. Photo / Michael Craig
New Zealand Cat Foundation advocate Anne Batley-Burton says people who view cats as pests are getting their hands on these traps and using them illegally.
Batley-Burton says these traps are “specifically designed to kill cats and possums”.
Batley-Burton says the placement of the trap in Te Atatū was a safety risk and “any cat, small dog or child could be chopped”.
