HUNTING CATS FOR SPORT AND CONTROL
2013, S Hartwell

In Britain, farmers can legally shoot stray and feral cats on their land; this is more likely if the farmer raises pheasants or other gamebirds for shooting as he does not want cats killing the young birds. This is considered pest control (farmers can also legally shoot dogs that harass livestock). Ont the illegal side, cats get used as bait animals by owners of illegal fighting dogs.

It is legal to hunt "stray cats" in parts of the Netherlands. Hunting of strays is allowed in Noord-Brabant, Friesland, Flevoland (possibly now banned since November 2013), Utrecht, Zuid-Holland, Southern Limburg and Texel. Around 8,000 - 13,000 feral or stray domestic cats are shot annually. In England it is legal for private landowners, farmers and gamekeepers to shoot stray cats - as long as it doesn't cause unnecessary suffering, it's legal to shoot (or to employ a person to shoot) strays/ferals on private land as "vermin". Stray cats are also shot in parts of France.

MESSYBEAST : GENERAL INTEREST