Look at what the cat's dragged in

Cat owners are being asked to examine the gory remains of the prey their pets drag in to assess whether their penchants for small mammals are depriving other species of their food supplies. The Mammal Society has launched a survey among owners of Britain's 7.2 million cats to examine hunting habits and assess what effect they are having on voles, mice and the like.

The Society is asking people to log the animals their cats prey on so they can build up a picture of whether other species, such as barn owls, are being deprived of their food supplies. The Society is asking those interested to send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Cat Survey, The Mammal Society, 15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London SW8 4BG. Matthew Brace