Cats killing birds...

KxMx

Re the collars: the saftey elastic is no such thing. So many shopd only sell those it's terrible that people buy them thinking they are safety ones. My own cat came home without one once, but through my volunteer work with cats I hear so many horror stories of cats who weren't so lucky.
The safety buckle collars are the ones you want, then snap open and shut.

Raggs_2

How loud is this beep? Have you tried putting it next to your ear (remembering they aren't as sensitive as your cats), and leaving it there for a day.

I've worked radio tracking animals, meaning listening to a constant beep for hours on end. It's enough to drive you insane if you can't get a break. A bell would be far less maddening I'd suspect.

You may want to save birds, but making your cat suffer instead shouldn't be the solution.

morg_monster

I read a bell collar is better if you change the bell every now and then - they learn how to move so the bell doesn't sound (or doesn't sound until its too late). new bell = new learning curve. I also agree that they'd quickly learn that they have 7 sec to stalk and pounce with the beeping one!

One idea I have seen is to get the cat wearing a kind of ruff of fabric - a tube that's open at both ends that you put the normal collar into and then do it up as normal. As its open, the safety features of the collar still work as normal. The cat looks absolutely ridiculous though but the idea is the bright fabric makes kitty much more visible to the birds and they'll spot them and fly off long before the cat gets close enough to pounce. According to the website that sells them they are pretty effective (one cat catching 2 or 3 birds over 16 months rather than 2-3 a week as he was doing before). BUt as I said, the cat does look like a clown!
the website is here
http://www.birdsbesafe.com/BuyBirdsbesafe.html
You can get them sent to the UK but equally it wouldn't be hard to make one yourself if you wanted to go down this route.

nomnomnom

Raggs wrote: »

How loud is this beep? Have you tried putting it next to your ear (remembering they aren't as sensitive as your cats), and leaving it there for a day.

I've worked radio tracking animals, meaning listening to a constant beep for hours on end. It's enough to drive you insane if you can't get a break. A bell would be far less maddening I'd suspect.

You may want to save birds, but making your cat suffer instead shouldn't be the solution.

No I haven't heard the beeps, that is why I am asking for opinions.

SusieWinwood

Plan A was electronic emitting collars - both cats had them - failed in stopping them killing birds. This type shrilled very! loudly when they went to strike.

Plan B was the cat bib lol! funny looking thing you loop over their collars, supposed to stop their co-ordination when they 'strike' to get a bird - failed after a few hours and birds brought back. This also was used with a snap off collar and Merlin came back minus collar, bib, name tag, petprotect tag, microchip tag and bells! SIGH

They now have 2 mahoosive bells on which sadly hasn't stopped the demise of more wildlife.

If you find anything that works please share as I am at my wits end!

TIA

rita-rabbit

raw kill is excellent for your cats nutrition

MiniMoo

My new cat has been bringing my OH shrews home so i added an extra bell to her collar so far so good she has'nt brought him anymore 'presents' home as of yet.

Moo xx

Aputsiaq

Absolute waste of money.
Also, dont forget that quite often some of the birds that the cat brings home are fallen birds. They dont stalk and kill every single one.