The Dutch hunters’ association has called on the government to lift the ban on shooting feral cats which applies in most parts of the country.

The association estimates there are some 165,000 feral cats living outside urban areas.

The cats, the hunters say, eat some 20 million other animals a year and spread the cat disease toxoplasmosis to domestic felines. They can also spread rabies by eating bats, the lobby group claims.

The lobby group also says all cat owners should be required by law to have their animals micro-chipped and to give then a collar and bell so they can be identified.