Letter: Feline felons

Sir: How observant of Charles Maybourne (Letter, 6 December) to note the predatory instincts of that devilish suburban murderer, the cat. And his concern for the well-being of a select group of garden wildlife is touching. But why stop there? I admit to a great fondness for cats - and robins, blue tits, blackbirds, voles, field mice and newts. But don't all of these themselves prey upon lesser species? Take care, Mr Maybourne - the Invertebrates Liberation Front probably knows where you live.

The notion of keeping in check nature's redness in tooth and claw is preposterous. Humans, on the other hand, are supposed to have evolved to the point at which the killing for pleasure - ultimately, the raison d'etre of foxhunting - is seen to be abhorrent.

RICHARD BUTTERWORTH

London N16