Another cat has been thrown from a moving vehicle sparking concern among animal rights activists who are calling it an "epidemic".
A kitten, trapped in a box, was thrown from a moving car at around 8:30am on Wednesday morning in New Brighton, Christchurch.
A witness described the vehicle as a silver Holden Commodore, with the back left door panel a different colour. Up to three people were in the car, the witness said.
The kitten, who the SPCA has named 'Brighton', has severe cat flu, and was sore and distressed from the incident. Under veterinary care, he is "doing well", and he is expected to make a full recovery.
It comes after another kitten was thrown from the window of a car in south Auckland last week. A witness saw the cat thrown from a Ford Falcon vehicle on Hill Rd, next to the Alfriston Hall, but didn't get the car's registration.
Lisa Churchill-Godard, adoption coordinator for charity 9 Lives, said the cat has injuries down his back legs which look almost like burn marks, but she says he's "healing up quite nicely already".
Another kitten died earlier this month after being thrown from a moving vehicle on Devon Rd in Taranaki and was run over, according to a witness.
Asked if cats being thrown from moving vehicles is becoming a pattern in New Zealand, Ms Churchill-Godard said, "Yes, definitely".
"We had around six cases in the last year and that's just for our little charity," she told Newshub.
"Knowing that there are about 40 other rescue charities just in Auckland, and considering our six cases, it's pretty much an epidemic."
She said the issue stems from owners not de-sexing their cats so they're left with unwanted animals, and they don't bother taking them to a shelter.
"They think it's much easier to just throw them away," Ms Churchill-Godard said.
The charity she works for doesn't pay for cats brought in but it also doesn't charge people to bring in their unwanted pets. She wants people to know that it's an easy process and far more humane than throwing an animal away.
"You can simply send us a message via our Facebook page or give us a phone call," she said.
9 Lives is now asking the public for name suggestions on its Facebook page for the kitten thrown from the car in south Auckland.
"He is a very happy kitten but very underweight and will not be available for adoption for some time yet."
Newshub.
