Much has been written about dog fouling and the dangers it poses for human health and I would be the first to condemn the selfish and ignorant owners which allow this to happen. Strangely little has been written about the even greater dangers posed by cat fouling.

Annually the number of reported diseases passed on to humans by cats is about ten times greater than that caused by dogs, about 800 to 80 cases respectively. Cats are known carriers of both Weills and Lyme diseases which can prove fatal to humans and can also lead to death or damage of unborn babies. Furthermore, a brain virus, linked to farmers suicides and depression in other people has been found in one in ten cats tested in the veterinary science laboratory at Bristol University and reported in the Veterinary Record. At least you can generally see where a dog has been, not so with cats. To many, cats are a convenience pet, allowed out at will to trespass on other peoples property, foul their gardens and damage or destroy their plants. They are the only animal pet which does this and what to you is a pretty pussy, is a predator to your neighbour.

If your dog bites someone, you can sue the owner for damages, not so with a cat; it can bite or scratch you umpteen times and you have no redress against the owner.

Cats are also prolific and sadistic killers, seldom killing cleanly, preferring to play with and torture their victims so that they either die of fright or suffer a long lingering death. Yet many cat owners who doubtless condemn fox hunting let their cats out on a killing spree every day of the year. Out of sight, out of mind.

It is estimated that domestic cats kill 300m small animals and birds every year, of which about 80m are birds. This has an impact upon the ecological balance of nature, since the great majority of birds are beneficial to mankind, in that they kill and eat billions of insects harmful to man and plants. Man then resorts to harmful chemicals to kill the insects, which kills yet more wildlife. These chemicals sink into the soil and eventually leach into the water, perhaps beginning to poison ourselves.

Cats are beautiful and intelligent creatures and make good pets. But as in the case of dogs, owners should be made responsible for them; if found fouling the owner should be fined. They should have identity tags and warning bells to mitigate the damage they do, especially during the main bird breeding season and they should be restricted to the curtilage of the owners property.

We have a Cats Protection League, as things stand we need it to protect us from the cats.

Name and address supplied.