Those darn cats?

Clark Cross has misunderstood my reference to the coup-de-grace delivered by cats (Letters, 19 February). I don’t dispute that they kill their prey, but it’s not a quick dispatch. The unfortunate animal will eventually die of shock, or succumb to its wounds.

In contrast, a wildcat or feral cat mother will teach her young how to deliver a quick, lethal bite. It’s imperative for their survival that they hone their hunting skills at an early age.

Yes, cats do kill millions of birds and small mammals every year. Despite this, there is no scientific evidence that cat predation is having a major impact on bird populations Uk-wide. Millions of birds die of natural causes every year, through starvation, disease or other forms of predation. Cats tend to catch weak or ill birds.

This certainly does not exempt cat owners from making efforts to minimise the impact on wildlife of their own pet. We have one small, neutered cat, whom we feed prior to letting her outdoors. She still hunts, but thankfully her kills are infrequent. I lament each one.

Species control is important, but we should make a distinction between control which serves mainly human interests, and that which aids other species, and/or the environment. According to a recent British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) survey, increased magpie numbers are not correlated with the decline in songbirds. Intensive farming practices are thought to be the most likely cause. CAROLYN TAYLOR

Wellbank Broughty Ferry, Dundee