Evolve from stray cats or kitten litters released in the wild.
New Zealand has an estimated population of 2.5 million feral cats which together with domestic cats , munch through an estimated 27 million birds annually!!!
Feral cats thrive, and we have caught some weighing 6 kg. All bone and mussel. Certainly not to be messed with.
They tend to be loners, and easily cover a territory of 7kilometre by 3kilometre. They will easily wipe out any kiwi chicks, but fortunately no match for healthy an adult kiwi.
Diet includes: mice, rats, lizards, insects, birds and eggs.