I TOOK part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch in the last weekend of January.

In one hour I recorded just four birds; not four species but a total of just four birds! My garden is reasonably large. It has a lawn, bushes, large and small trees, a rough area, a pond, and a bird table with food.

Bird numbers have plummeted over the last few years and it doesn't take a genius to see why. During the one hour of the Big Garden Birdwatch there were three visits made by cats. It is just a few days since they had a woodpigeon. I suspect that the increase in cat numbers is because they are easier to look after than dogs, especially if you are out at work all day; you simply open the door and let them amuse themselves on the street or in your neighbours' gardens.

A tour of my garden today also found ten piles of cat muck on the lawn! These were just the visible ones. Often they bury them, and they only come to light during gardening and you the potentially germ-ridden filth on your hands.

There is a steady stream of complaints in the media about dog mess, but the problem posed by cats is far worse. At least dogs do not wander around neighbours' gardens, going to toilet and slaughtering the wildlife.

It is time cat owners took responsibility for their charges.

Dr Clive Mowforth

Jubilee Road

Kingshill

Dursley