The cat debate that refuses to die down in Paihia is a classic case of emotion clouding what appears to be quite a simple issue.
Feral cats should not be encouraged. They should be humanely euthanised.
I have experienced living near a family of feral cats. They evolved from a poorly cared-for domestic moggy matriarch, that grew to distrust humans.
These cats and subsequent kittens stole our cat's food, and infected it with disease.
I had little choice but to trap these animals, one by one, and have them euthanised.