A pet cat has been killed by a pack of hunting hounds - the rules on fox hunting explained

A family pet has been killed by hunting hounds in Cornwall

A 14 year old rescue cat called Minnie was attacked outside her owner’s home on a housing estate in Cornwall on Saturday (6 Mar).

The cat’s owner, Carly Jose, said her children “cried themselves to sleep” after the incident.

A video of the incident reportedly shows the hounds savaging the cat, before a member of the hunt picks up the cat’s body and throws it over a fence.

Ms Jose said she is “absolutely devastated” and that she hasn’t watched the video, as it is too disturbing.

‘Incidents of this nature are incredibly rare’

The hounds belonged to the Western Hunt, which has apologised “unreservedly for the distress caused.

Speaking to ITV News, Ms Jose said that a member of the hunt had returned to her home later to offer her money as compensation for the incident, which she refused.

A spokesperson from the Western Hunt said: “The Hunt is aware of events that took place on Saturday, 6th March, while the hounds were being exercised in an area where they are taken routinely, without incident, by officials of the hunt.

"The hunt has been in contact with the cat owner to apologise unreservedly for the distress this has caused and is also helping the police with their enquiries.

"Incidents of this nature involving hounds are incredibly rare due to the professionalism with which the hounds are managed, however the hunt has taken this matter very seriously and is reviewing their procedures to prevent any reoccurrence.”

Is fox hunting illegal?

Although fox hunting was in theory made illegal by the passage of the 2004 Hunting Act, many hunting groups still operate today on the basis of ‘trail hunting’ which is a legal alternative where no prey is intentionally hunted.