What a bigoted person J A Martin from Billingham must be. How dare this person suggest that cat owners are normally lazy.

I own four cats and have a lovely garden too. Most of my friends also have multiple cat households and very few of our cats are allowed out on their own - if they do go out, it is usually under supervision due to the increasing cruelty/theft of animals.

Doesn't J A Martin think cats have a right to behave instinctively as does everything else on this planet? Incidentally, my cats actually prefer to come back into the house to use a litter tray and, if by chance one finds a deposit while gardening, it's usually noticed by the gardener well before we get to the fingers stage.

Going on to the awful diseases carried by cats, we as humans who share our home with such filthy disgusting creatures make sure they are regularly treated for parasites. After all, we don't want these either!

So, J A Martin, take a chill pill, (or a course in feline behaviour - you could learn a thing or two!) cats are wonderful companions, great entertainers and great for lowering the heart rate.

MRS TMH, Saltburn (Full name and address withheld on request)