13 MARCH 2004, Page 30

Don't kill cats

From Jonathan de Ferranti Sir: I am the owner and full-time occupier of a country house around which wild birds and a variety of domestic and semi-domestic cats live together. I think Rod Liddle should be buried alive (Thought for the day, 6 March).

The wise ancient Egyptians worshipped cats because they understood their essential role in rodent control. By contrast, at the time of the Black Death, cats, instead of being allowed to control the plague's carriers, were persecuted by the clerical authorities because of their close relationship with people who do not fit easily into mainstream society and who were consequently deemed to be witches.

Jonathan de Ferranti