Does your cat hunt - and how do you deal with it?

Your story reminds me of the best hunter cat I ever had the privilege to know (and knowing him was a privilege - he was an exceptional cat). He was a big un-neutered tom, black body white paws and nose (that quite common pattern that almost the reverse of Siamese colouring) and belonged to my landlady when I was much younger. His crowning success hunting was to take a seagull on the wing down - they are big aggressive birds and awesome fliers and with wings the same size as him. He had led up in bushes next to grass and waited until a flock were grazing before charging and leaping onto one. I have never seen anything like it and never known another cat attempt it.

I agree cats can be good for avoiding or reducing rodent problems - although I think I would be removing less field voles if the cats did not keep bringing live ones in. We do sometimes get rats around here (close to farms and allotments) but I wish the cats would not tangle with them as a wild rat can seriously injure a cat. If someone has a problem with rats I recommend terriers rather than cats as there is less risk to the pet.