Wrong target lined up in the war on vermin

FERAL or stray cats are now considered ‘fair game’ by shooters. Many people in rural areas welcome these cats as they keep down the rodent population.

But the shooters appear to have little regard for this vital service. They would allow rats to run riot, to the detriment of the farmers they claim to be supporting in their ‘war on vermin’.

The problem, from the shooter’s point of view, is that cats pose a threat to pheasant-rearing pens. This perceived menace is taking precedence over the proven track record of cats - domestic and feral - in keeping rodents at bay.