The purr-fect SOLUTION

The fur is flying as Kerre comes up with a humane answer to feral cats

- KERRE WOODHAM

I knew when I broached the subject of feral cats recently being classified as pests by the Department of Conservation that it was going to provoke a strong reaction.

After all, cats are the most popular companion animal in New Zealand. An estimated 1.2 million felines are served by their loyal slaves in this country, compared to the 830,000 dogs that share a home with their people.

We always had a cat in the house when I was growing up and we also had one when my daughter was little. For a long time, I was emphatically a cat person. I liked the fact cats are choosy and fickle when it comes to giving affection, and are able to entertain themselves and exercise on their own. If they find themselves without their people, well, they might be inconvenienced but they'll find a way to survive.