Stopping Cat Catching Birds

[sarasara]

Iv seen those bib things and they look awful, a horrible thing to put on a cat, no worse than declawing i think 
Your right the elastic collars are dangerous and in your setting he would probably lose many a quick release collar 

Am i the only one who thinks a ringing bell isnt a nice thing to hang off a cat? My childhood cat would go totally ballistic with a bell on so its probably seeing him so distressed that puts me off the idea

Not really helping your problem  will he finish them off if you leave him to it? Sometimes its quicker than leaving them somewhere dark 
Birds are most vunerable at dawn and dusk so keeping him in at those times may help a bit

Hi Milly's mum, yes I try to keep them in at those times and all night but in the day they hide under bushes, behind walls at the enterence to sheds and just wait to pounce.

[sarasara]

Sharon has a similar amount of private land, Sarasara, surrounded by a thick woodland which is an official nature reserve. The whole area is around 50 acres and is one of the remnants of the great woodlands of Kent.  Leo does bring in prey but the bell does help she says. 

I'd try the CD thing though. They are effective bird scarers. Especially with bush lurkers... the way to attack the problem is to stop the birds landing in the first place. 

I also do agree with the others... some cats love hunting and you'll never totally stop them. 

thanks julie, I'd need hundreds of CDs, though I will try that at one particular place.

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

Yes my Leo has been partial to a seagull and even a squirrel in the past!! Not a pleasant sight!
Siamese are not really renowned for being great hunters. But one of my other siamese of many years back was a great rat catcher..

I do love me Leo and Bella!! Strangely i have not known that to catch birds.. mainly furry creatures of which there are many up here..
We are very lucky to live in such a rural area..

Leo is not worried who gives him a hug! He welcomes all forms of affection...But is especially partial to a chin rub!
Thanks Julie!

[Millys Mum]

Iv seen those bib things and they look awful, a horrible thing to put on a cat, no worse than declawing i think 
Your right the elastic collars are dangerous and in your setting he would probably lose many a quick release collar 

Am i the only one who thinks a ringing bell isnt a nice thing to hang off a cat? My childhood cat would go totally ballistic with a bell on so its probably seeing him so distressed that puts me off the idea

Not really helping your problem  will he finish them off if you leave him to it? Sometimes its quicker than leaving them somewhere dark 
Birds are most vunerable at dawn and dusk so keeping him in at those times may help a bit

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

He is friendly sort as well! I've a real soft spot for Leo.  Loves a cuddle off anyone.  But alsoby all accounts a bit of a thug when it comes to creatures non-feline. 

Did Sharon ever tell folks about the time she tried to drag in an adult Seagull through the catflap? Nearly busted the flap off its hinges. 

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

Sharon he's gorgeous 

[Kirst]

I did try safety collars m but it got too damn expensive - three in one week once! My boys are naked now!

[Canterbury_cats (Sharon)]

It is a canary bell!! The ones you get on the toys for birds in cages.. However, its not 100 percent working. Despite being white (Cream Siamese) and getting on abit in yrs.. he still managed to bring in a rabit last week!.. In the spring we have to be on bunny watch!

My brothers cats (Kirst 2 brothers of my brothers cats Apollo and Memphis).. catch alot of stuff!! And they have an even bigger bell..

It might help with birds, but rabbits and mouses not much..

However.. at least a bell gives them some sort of advance notice.. Having said that always use safety collars...!

Cats are hunters and sadly it just comes with owning one!..

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

Its awful isnt it Kirst, Ive had a bird on the arm of the chair, thought it was dead- the next minute it started coughing blood and freaking out  I had to leave the room and let Harry finish the job 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Sharon has a similar amount of private land, Sarasara, surrounded by a thick woodland which is an official nature reserve. The whole area is around 50 acres and is one of the remnants of the great woodlands of Kent.  Leo does bring in prey but the bell does help she says. 

I'd try the CD thing though. They are effective bird scarers. Especially with bush lurkers... the way to attack the problem is to stop the birds landing in the first place. 

I also do agree with the others... some cats love hunting and you'll never totally stop them. 

[Kirst]

I hate to say it but it is part and parcel of having a cat that goes out - mine are terrible hunters , I have had to learn to be tough and if possible put their prey out of its misery.

[sarasara]

If you have a bush in your garden, or know of a bush where your cat hangs out, tie a few old CDs to it. The sunshine sparkling off them frightens the birds and they won't land near to them. 

Sharon (Canterbury Cats) has got an enormous bell on her Leo's collar. Not sure where she got it.  But you can hear her Leo coming a mile off. A bit like Rudolf on Christmas Eve. 

I'm on four acres of wild land. As I say bells don't ring when the cat is waiting for ages hidden ready to pounce.

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

I have a hunter and he could catch a bird blindfolded with his paws tied behind his back  I have tried the bell and collar thing- he can get them off himself, have cat-proffed my garden with the propper Secure-a-cat fencing and he can still get over that, even tho it's 8ft high 

I have just really found out if they are determined enough, there is actually no way to stop them  I did consider keeping him as a house cat but felt this would be taking away his kitty rights 

One good thing about the cat proofing is he cant bring birds back into the garden- so I dont see the killing, which has made it somewhat better for me as you just feel helpless 

I only get to see him chomping on the occasional mouse when I open the front window for him, which by that time it's too late for me to do anything, but at least Im not having to deal with the mauled birds in my back garden   

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

If you have a bush in your garden, or know of a bush where your cat hangs out, tie a few old CDs to it. The sunshine sparkling off them frightens the birds and they won't land near to them. 

Sharon (Canterbury Cats) has got an enormous bell on her Leo's collar. Not sure where she got it.  But you can hear her Leo coming a mile off. A bit like Rudolf on Christmas Eve. 

[sarasara]

I want to stop my youngest cat from catching birds because if he does he does not kill them but rips open their wings from their body and they just die horribly. I found two things on the net, a cruel inhibiting bib on sale from the US and the usual collar and bell.

I am very much against cat collars in the countryside because I have seen a cat strangled by one, even though it had an elastic extender.

They can catch on barbed wire, trees and bushes and hang the cat.

I also think that bells are useless in a country setting becasue a cat  will lurk in a bush and the bell will only ring as the bird is caught, the cats can sit for ages quietly waiting for a bird to come along. Any ideas appreciated?

sara.