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Ah yes! The problem of "cats". My brothers and I have recently debated this issue since we all have a fair amount of experience in dealing with the "problem". Not many people know this, but cats are tough critters, and a lot harder to kill than people think. We all agree that .22 rimfire is completely unacceptable and most often only wounds them. For the longest time, my chosen and most effective "tool" against feral cats was the Remington Model 700, chambered for the .243 Winchester. I never had one get away. But it's a bolt action, and if there are five or six, you're probably only to kill half of them before the rest get wise to the fact that you're a threat. So I switched over to using one of the kid's AR-15s and loaded up some Nosler BTs (55gr I "think") into .223 Rem cartridges. I like it better because the bullet completely explodes and leaves only a small portion of the base, which doesn't travel far and is safer in this relatively flat terrain. Of course, on the odd occasion, I did use the FAL, but 7.62mm NATO on cats is like using 3/4" drive air tools on a model airplane....complete overkill!...and very, VERY messy.

My two brothers are probably better "qualified" to speak on the subject than me, as they both own exterminating companies. They swear by the .17HMR. But I'm sticking with the .223 Rem and the AR. :-)

Shooting them is one way to counter the problem in a rural setting. But in the city, we all know that it's completely out of the question. So having said all that, I'll have to admit that the single most effective "tool" we've had against feral cats here on the farm has been the Rat Terriers. They leave the barn cats alone (consider them packmates we suppose), but they're "death" on other cats!

Check out my "poster"...altered to suit myself of course! This one I can live with!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1983311/posts?page=140#140