Cat shot with thermal scope

[tarponhead]

Off tangent slightly, keep cats in during nesting and fledging time would see a dramatic increase in wild bird life numbers for just a few weeks of thought by cat owners, let them back out in time to keep the mice down

Good solution, to which I would add that if everyone did more to improve habitat on their ground, feeding during winter and nesting season, by not cutting hedges, margins and verges unnecessarily, it would also help.

 

[steve sxs]

Wrong, cat is not lawful quarry, so be careful - get your facts right before encouraging actions that could get your licence revoked

Err I was joking (it's called having a sense of humour)

 

[Smellydog]

How I understand the law, please correct me if...is that a cat is classed as semi domestic.

While it is unlawful to shoot someone's pet without reason it is widely known a cat can become feral quickly and go on to become a pest.
A dog also can be shot if livestock worrying but must be reported to police. Same if a dog gets run over. I'm not aware of any requirements to report the death of a cat though.

Many years ago someone's pet cat kept visiting a friend's property. His property was not the average town 1/4 acre garden. It was in fact a coi carp breeding unit!
Long story short he resorted to shooting said cat. Everyone knew what happened and who by. It was in the local rag and included in the local rag was a statement from the police but they, the police never visited my friend to investigate.