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Organizers of a competition for children to hunt and kill feral cats in New Zealand called off the event this week following a backlash from animal rights groups, the Independent reported Wednesday.

The North Canterbury Hunting Competition had initially unveiled a category offering children under 14 the chance to win around $150 for shooting the most feral cats by the end of June.

The competition barred children from killing domesticated cats and those who did would be disqualified.

Even so, animal welfare groups swiftly condemned the competition, citing concerns that the children would not be able to tell the difference between domestic and feral felines.

Following the outrage, organizers quickly scrapped the category from the hunting competition, which is held annually to raise funds for the rural South Island community and village school.

The competition each year typically sees hundreds of people – including children – competing to kill wild pigs, deer, and hares, according to the BBC.

The organizers wrote on Facebook that the school had received “vile and inappropriate messages and emails” since the introduction of the new category, which was removed due to “safety” concerns.

The competition underscores the public debate about how to deal with feral cat populations in New Zealand.

The animals pose a threat to the biodiversity and native wildlife of the island nation: They are known to prey on native birds, lizards, and insects.