Neighbours cat is killing all the garden birds

jaqui59

Hi everyone ..

I have a someones cat who lives nearby coming into my garden regularly and killing the garden birds ... Its latest kill was an adorable Blackbird who had lived in my garden for 2 years. Im missing him not being there, watching him scurrying around on the lawn, pulling huge worms out of the ground and bathing in my wildlife pond. To make matters worse the female he had paired up with seems distressed and seems to be looking and calling for him constantly since his demise .. He is such a good hunter that he has even catching Magpies and Squirrels!

The owner told me the cat was a stray for the first 6 months of its life, and had to fend for itself which it is obviously still attempting to do, even though its now being fed and cared for.

My garden is perfect ambush territory, and the birds don't stand a chance, which leaves me to ask if anyone has any idea what I can possibly do to stop this creature coming into my garden.

jamespir

jaqui59 wrote: »

Hi everyone ..

I have a someones cat who lives nearby coming into my garden regularly and killing the garden birds ... Its latest kill was an adorable Blackbird who had lived in my garden for 2 years. Im missing him not being there, watching him scurrying around on the lawn, pulling huge worms out of the ground and bathing in my wildlife pond. To make matters worse the female he had paired up with seems distressed and seems to be looking and calling for him constantly since his demise .. He is such a good hunter that he has even catching Magpies and Squirrels!

The owner told me the cat was a stray for the first 6 months of its life, and had to fend for itself which it is obviously still attempting to do, even though its now being fed and cared for.

My garden is perfect ambush territory, and the birds don't stand a chance, which leaves me to ask if anyone has any idea what I can possibly do to stop this creature coming into my garden.

wilkinsons sell a device that emits sounds to scare the cat

jaqui59

Yes, thankyou, ive heard about these devices, but ive also heard that they work for a while then the cat just ignores it .. Do you know of anyone who has used one with success?

jamespir

neighbour across road from us when i lived with mum and dad had one and our cats never went near her garden

gettingready

Put a collar with a bell on the cat....

jaqui59

I asked the owner if she could put a collar and bell on the cat, but she said no because she was scared of it hanging itself on a branch

hcb42

I dont think being a stray is relevant really, every cat I have had has gone hunting for mice birds, voles, etc, one even dragged in a crow...eek.

Darlyd

Not just cat's my 10 yr old staffie, all her life has "played" with birds. We have a pond and a water feature which attracts bird, and a huge tall tree with nests in, it's such a beautiful sound when they are singing. But as soon as she is let out I fear she will drag one in. It's heart breaking having to end their suffering. It's just nature I guess.

EDIT: We have just got another bunch of chickens (6) our last lot were murdered by a fox, just murdered, not eaten! grrrr, Of course they have their own little section of the garden, molly just goes up to the fence, barks and wonders off (weirdo). Our puppy, well he is different, he goes in there when DH cleans them, and plays with them, does not hurt them, just plays with them, it's pretty funny to watch, as soon as a chicken (usually sheila) pecks him to p off, he crys and runs off.. bless.. Moral of the story is, Alphy is being brought up with them, so won't harm them, or any other bird for that matter. He don't even bother with the frogs, sniffs them then wanders off to my strawberry plant. grrr

SnowyOwl_2

Jacqui, get yourself a water pistol and squirt it at the cat every time you see it. Or use the garden hose, however it'd be better if the cat doesn't realise it's you who is wetting him/her. Also if you can put any bird tables into as wide open a spaces as possible, that should help matters. If you put food out for the birds try not to throw it on the ground. I know you get a lot of enjoyment out of it, but if the food is on top of a garden shed for example, then the birds have a much better chance of escape that on the ground where they are prone to being caught. It's an age old problem. BTW magpies kill baby birds of other species for food, so the cat has done some good as well as bad.

erdd2

SnowyOwl wrote: »

Do the world a favour and eat your special tuna mix yourself.

Do the environment a favour and train your at least your tongue if not your cat

tankgirl1

erdd2 wrote: »

Do the environment a favour and train your at least your tongue if not your cat

ha - learn some 'grammar' before having a go on the interwebs at others!
post reported btw