Is compensation obligatory for killing the cat (Sinnawr), whether domestic or wild?

Chapter on Ransom (Fidyah) and Penalty for Hunting

Al-Mughni

Book of Hajj

Book 11 · Issue 4 · Bab 6

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The sound position is that there is no compensation for killing a cat, whether domestic or wild. This is the preferred view of Al-Qadi because the cat is a predator and is not edible.

Supporting text

Al-Thawri and Ishaq ruled that wild cats incur a penalty based on appraisal (Hukm), but domestic ones do not, because game must be wild for the compensation rule to apply.