Killing cats with poisons or pesticides

Fatwa no. 6976 Praise be to Allah Alone. May peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and Companions.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has reviewed the query sent to His Eminence the President from `Abdul-Muhsin ibn `Abdullah Al Al-Shaykh. The query, registered in the Department of Research in 29/3/1404 A.H., no. 773, is as follows:The Director of the Religious Affairs in the Armed Forces in Al-Ta'if sent us a letter in 6/3/1404 A.H., no. (144). He asks whether it is permissible to kill cats by poison or any other chemical substances. It is worth mentioning that these cats are harmful and cause infections to the employees living in the accommodation of the airbase clinics in Al-Ta'if. We hope you will give us your Fatwa in this regard, may Allah grant you success!

Having discussed the query, the Committee replies as follows: There is nothing wrong with killing cats if they are harmful or suffer from serious diseases, (Part No. 26; Page No. 194) as long as no other means than killing is available.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions!