FARMERS claim bovine tuberculosis is now out of control after new figures showed a dramatic rise in the number of domestic cats with the disease.

Details released by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show that 42 cats were confirmed with the disease between 2005 and 2007 compared with 15 over the previous seven years.

The National Farmers' Union said it was evidence of a "worrying trend" and indicated a relentless rise in infection.

Farmers have long campaigned for a cull on badgers, known to be perfect hosts for the disease, but the Government refuses to sanction a cull.

"It's just the tip of the iceberg," said Catherine McLaughlin, the union's animal health and welfare adviser. "Given that these cases were only identified through post mortems or clinical intervention, it suggests far greater levels of transmission than we have previously seen."

The Badger Trust said the claims were "scaremongering", while Defra attributed the rise to increased reporting since TB in cats became a notifiable disease 18 months ago.

The worry is that the disease is now so prevalent that species which were previously unaffected, like pigs and sheep, are now contracting it. It was not known how many of the cats were infected through cattle or badgers, but at least one had shared a bowl of food with a badger.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has ruled out a badger cull in England, but in Ireland a cull has reduced cases by 42 per cent.

Defra figures confirm a 26 per cent rise in bTB in cattle in England this year.

Dr John Gallagher, a former Government vet who lives on Dartmoor, said: "This is just about facing reality. A cull is the only sensible option.

"The sad reality is that the current minister is aware that 95 per cent of his voters live in the towns and cities – and only two per cent of them are farmers."