Bill Hayes, a county prosecutor in Ohio, made the comments as part of his campaign to be elected as county commissioner, a prominent post in local government.

“This won’t be very popular,” he told a hustings event with remarkable self-awareness, before continuing: “We have a squirrel season, various seasons.

“It would seem to me if you’ve got an animal that’s not a pet for anybody, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to make the situation better. A feral cat season if you need to. You gotta do what you gotta do.”

However, Mr Hayes has since rowed back and told the Newark Advocate: “My words were poorly chosen. I know we can’t go around shooting cats. My solution was not a good one, not even feasible.”