Quite the opposite is the fact that it poses a very real problem of which everyone should be aware.

Last year comprehensive articles in the Daily Telegraph and elsewhere, warned of the dangers of an ever-present parasite which lives in the gut of cats in particular, toxoplasmosis gondii.

It infects the soil awaiting its next host which could be you! Please don't dig it into the soil around the vegetables or put it on the compost heap.

Any sign of soil disturbance should be investigated with a plastic bag over the hand and the offensive stuff removed and a solution of Jeyes fluid applied to the area.

In my area we have too many cats and I have to check daily. The damage done where they scratch up bulbs and seedlings is not welcome either.

Not only cats but grazing animals are also infected and in France it poses a very real problem because of the national trend to eat their steaks rare.

It has the largest infected population in Europe, probably from feral cat population infecting grassland on which the animals feed.

People with a weak immune system - eg anyone with cancer, leukaemia, Aids and other debilitating illnesses - are less able to fight such infection –and there is yet no cure.

It can stay in the human undetected for years until someone is very ill and then this parasite adds to problems.

In Britain 20 per cent of the population is infected and are carriers. If healthy it is not a problem but pregnant women can pass it to their foetus, with problems of stillbirths and so on.

Tommy's baby charity cited in a 1996 survey that symptoms range from headache, nausea, painful joints, photophobia (discomfort in bright light), night sweats and dizziness, skin disorders and many other more severe problems which are often missed by doctors – see www.tommys.org for more information.

I do have experience as a nurse and midwife where this parasite has been the cause of much heartache for so many.

Perhaps Mrs Ward should do some research in future before making such bland statements as "a bit of cat poo is good for your veg plot" – it is not and definitely not good news for the gardener.

Ida Edwards
Burwood Grove
Hayling