13 JUNE 1992, Page 24

Spray and poop

Sir: Alan Watkins' (Diary, 9 May) ginger torn may have sprayed just twice in six years in his house, but I'll bet his neighbours haven't been so lucky. That is because cats, like birds, never soil their own abode (the local expression is more colourful but rather crude). Our neighbour, an elderly recluse, (like Alan?), has two toms. We and others within a couple of houses are much troubled by their frequent spraying, in our case on children's toys, the car, and the entrance doors (from where the appalling stench wafts through the house). They also poop on the lawn, so that I or the children invariably track the sticky odour onto the shag-pile carpet.

The Victorian Government, recognising that irresponsible animal owners such as Mr Watkins are not open to reason and need the threat of substantial fines to act responsibly, has drafted the Companion Animals Bill. This far-sighted legislation will, among other things, require that male cats other than registered breeding stock be castrated. England, yet again, lags far behind the New World.

Burnard A. Morey •

14 Austin Street, Bulleen 3105, Australia