Renters unleash moggy monsters

Omori residents have got their hackles up over the cats Christmas holidaymakers bring in and leave behind.

The cats arrive at the small Lake Taupo¯ town, but many do not make the return journey.

Omori-Kuratau Pest Management Group (OKPMG) member Russell Shaw is pleading with people to not bring their furry friends with them.

‘‘Please leave your cat in a cattery. It’s better for the cats and better for the bird life,’’ he said.

OKPMG has trapped and removed 96 feral cats this year. Shaw says a lot of them are clearly domestic cats left behind by their owners because they can’t find them when it comes time to head home.

‘‘The cats are busy with their heads stuck in a rabbit hole, so when it comes time for the family to leave, the cat can’t be found,’’ he said.

‘‘So they leave them behind and within 10 to 12 days, they have turned feral.’’

He wasn’t blaming the entire cat problem on runaway domestic cats, but any that have not been neutered end up breeding.

‘‘Then we have a major problem and we have to clean it up.’’

Altogether, the group has caught about 600 cats over the past six years and the problem is not getting any better.

This year has been particularly bad compared to last year’s 83 feral cats.

While they do target the feral cats, they have also caught the odd home-loving moggy.

‘‘If it’s a cat from around here and it’s got a collar, we take it back to its owner.

‘‘If it’s a cat that looks fairly domestic, we will take it to the vet and see if it’s microchipped.’’

Since the group started targeting pests in the area, members have managed to bring back the bird life and Shaw said they would like to keep it that way.

‘‘Please, please, please leave your cat behind.’’

Andrea Midgen, chief executive of SPCA New Zealand, said she was unaware of people taking their domestic cats on holiday with them.

‘‘It’s certainly unusual. Most people would either put them in a cattery or get the neighbour to feed them which is a much better thing to do,’’ she said.