What's up with Southland's 'cat killer'? SPCA refuses to be drawn on investigation

September 23, 2018
A kitten, aged six to eight weeks, looks upward.

The SPCA won't say if its investigation into a man who claims to have buried 170 cats in his vegetable garden is complete.

Ian Gamble, from Invercargill, posted the claim on Environment Southland's social media page in September.

The Facebook comment was a response to a Council proposal to microchip and register cats in some areas.

"I have lived here for over 30 years and have 170 cats in my veggie garden, which is the best place for a cat in a bush suburb," Mr Gamble wrote.

The comment upset other posters, with one saying they were going to contact the SPCA.

Mr Gamble's remarks since been removed from the Council's page.

At the time, the SPCA confirmed that it was investigating this claim, but when Stuff contacted a spokesperson on Tuesday they said the organisation was "unable to give any further comment on the investigation at this time".

Last month, Mr Gamble told Stuff he made the comments to "rark up the cat ladies of Otatara".

"I’m legally allowed to use a humane kill trap on my property and almost all of those cats were feral," he said.

Mr Gamble added he had not killed any of his neighbours cats and had not used firearms to kill them.

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