Feral cats are out of control in the South Island, threatening wildlife and even zoo animals by spreading disease.
Volunteer and professional animal workers say huge cat colonies are building in city and regional areas.
Wendy Sisson, organiser of the volunteer group Cats Unloved, said the situation in Christchurch was out of
hand - "we know of colonies in most suburbs".
Orana Park animal manager Ian Adams said abandoned cats were a threat to exotic animals at the McLeans Island wildlife park, near Christchurch.
"The problem is the cats urinate in the hay and all the bedding straw, so the animals here are at risk of contracting toxoplasmosis."
Anita Spencer, biodiversity ranger with the Department of Conservation, said feral cats were a problem in coastal areas and even in the middle of the Southern Alps.
She trapped cats most frequently on Banks Peninsula, in an attempt to protect penguin colonies.
Environment Canterbury ranger Dianne Parker said feral cats were being dumped north of the Waimakariri River.
She said endangered birds were nesting at this site and at McLeans Island.
Herald Feature: Conservation and Environment
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