Wellington's move to become predator free might not be good news for the city's cats.

Officials announced at Otari Bush yesterday that the capital plans to be the first city in the country to completely eradicate pests.

It follows the government's move to become predator free by 2050.

Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Chris Laidlaw said cats could have to be removed all together from some suburbs.

"They will become the dominate feral predator if they are left to increase in numbers around city fringes, which they're doing now. So, yes they have to be part of the equation."

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown said when Wellington becomes the first city to achieve that goal, it will put it on the global map.

"It's incredibly exciting to have such flourishing biodiversity in a city. So many people in the world live in cities now, and the predator free capital will be great."