Cats killing birds ... Nieghbours keep feeding birds!

Buckslad_2

Not sure what to expect or to gain from posting this but im feeling so frustrated right now.
Our garden backs onto our nieghbours garden, we are very good friends with the wife, not so much the husband (nothing in common) and since we moved here we have become friends and they both adore our two cats.

Winter just gone they started feeding the birds in their garden which was fine, i also put some fatballs out to help the birds over the horrible weather but obviously high up and out of reach/ pounching distance from our two cats who are big hunters.

We expressed our concerns about them encouraging the cats in there garden (always under strict instructions and agreement that the cats do not go in their house and they do not feed them) and having the bird table. Our cats are chipped and im not a fan of cat collars.

Fast forward a few months and two bird tables later ... its like Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds out there. They are everywhere and are encouraged by lots of food .... Our cats are still encouraged into there garden for 'cuddles' ... you can see where im going with this cant you?

Our cats are constantly catching and killing birds. The last two days has seen no less than three bird deaths (that we know of as they tend to go down the hatch pretty quick!)

I have now resorted to putting collars on both cats with large bells. Something that is driving them and us mad already :mad: I now dred them going out and possibly getting the collar caught and them hanging themselves (They are safety collars but i dont trust them)

So im putting the washing out just now and they are in the garden once again filling up the bird feeders whilst cooing over one of our cats who is flopping at there feet showing off his new collar! :mad:

Cat proofing our garden is impossible because of the layout and trees against the fence. I want to speak to them but im unsure about how to go about this. I know the husband is the one driving this new passion for feeding the birds and she wont say anything to him!

I feel incredibly sorry for the birds, most are young birds whose parents are nesting nearby or taking them to the feeding station, so they dont stand a chance. I feel i am trying all i can by putting the collars on the cats even though i dont agree with it but yet they are still encouraging the birds into their garden thoughtlessly putting them all in danger.

Any constructive advise would be much appreciated. Will check back shortly after clearing the lawn of yet more feathers from a poor female blackbird

Harry_Flashman

Don't worry about the collars. I've kept cats for over 20 years and they've always had collars and never had any problems with 'em.

Other than that, there ain't much you can do. It's a natural instinct to hunt (no matter how well fed they are).

con1888

Is there a fence seperating your garden and theirs? Could you maybe put up cat proofing spiked (that won't harm your cats) to discourage them going over there.

Looks like it's just nature though, it is a shame for the birds but what else can you do

Buckslad_2

Thanks for the replies. I am going to start trying to get the high fence sorted and less cat friendly .. this will obviously be noticed so i think its inevitable we are going to have to have a conversation with them about encouraging the cats into there garden which i hate the thought of as they are so good at popping in a feeding them when we are away ect but i think going forward they are going to have to chase the cats out of there garden with a water gun or something. Thats gona be horrible for one of the cats who adores the fuss he gets when he is in their garden

Fridaycat

I too don't agree with cats wearing collars. OK, of course most will not get injured with them, but if only one does, that's one too many (and I've heard about more than one instance of cats being injured/killed through them getting caught on things).

It might sound obvious, but are your neighbours aware of how may birds the cats are actually killing? Yes, nature is one thing, but to actively encourage predator and prey into the same area (through perhaps ignorance of the results) is quite another.

It might sound a little grisly, but perhaps take photos of some dead feathery bodies and show them the carnage?

Buckslad_2

Fridaycat wrote: »

I too don't agree with cats wearing collars. OK, of course most will not get injured with them, but if only one does, that's one too many (and I've heard about more than one instance of cats being injured/killed through them getting caught on things).

It might sound obvious, but are your neighbours aware of how may birds the cats are actually killing? Yes, nature is one thing, but to actively encourage predator and prey into the same area (through perhaps ignorance of the results) is quite another.

It might sound a little grisly, but perhaps take photos of some dead feathery bodies and show them the carnage?

Its been mentioned to them and one got chucked back over the fence in anger the other week for them to pick up for a change (petty i know but we were so fed up and upset)

I think we need to sit down with her and explain just how many birds are being killed and she can have that conversation with the husband. Failing that we will just throw all of the bodies back over the fence:( Thank you.

coinxoperated

In truth, some cats are hunters, some aren't. If they aren't taking birds from there garden they are likely to be looking elsewhere too. Have you actually seen your cat kill a bird they have enticed into there garden? It would seem a shame to break a nice neighbour relationship just because your cats kill a few birds.

Whatever you do, it's there instinct to kill something. My old cat used to murder pink hair bands :rotfl: one loved bringing in snails :rotfl:.

Bird aren't that stupid either. Hence the young ones being killedZ eventually your cats will deter them from laying young so near your garden.

Personally, at most I'd tell the neighbour your cats keep bringing in dead birds (tell her husband too!!!) and ask if they could feed them higher up or not feed them as its a shame that the birds they enjoy so much are getting killed. I would just leave it there. They are the ones feeding them, let them have the guilt!

KxMx

Collars are fine, as long as it has a buckle type release,

not "safety elastic" which is anything but and are the most dangerous kind.

Realistically the only thing you can do to try and cut down the number of bodies is a collar with a bell, short of keeping your cat inside. I think a word with your neighbour would spell out the situation to them. I appreciate in this sitaution it's your neighbours encouraging both, and while them stopping that would be good, your cats and can (and probably will) easily wander elsewhere and hunt.

As hard as it is for us to stomach, cats are natural hunters and don't do it out of malice but instinct. Believe me when I say the cat finishing off the bird is the kindest way, rather than you chasing cat with live bird in mouth, attempting to get away, mounting a rescue, having the cat play with it etc.

I hate it when my cat brings me a present- especially as I can get anything off her apart from a bird- but i'm always happier when it's already dead

Owain_Moneysaver

This is a moneysaving forum.

Your cats are catching their own food.

This will cut the catfood bills.

:money:

withabix

Buckslad wrote: »

I feel i am trying all i can by putting the collars on the cats even though i dont agree with it but yet they are still encouraging the birds into their garden thoughtlessly putting them all in danger.

How about NOT LETTING YOUR CATS OUT.

You are the thoughtless one, not your neighbours.

con1888

I remember my old cat killed 3 of the fish in my neighbours pond, neighbour was raging but was nothing I could do, suggested he put a net over it. Had the cat not happily wandered by with the fish in her mouth and dropped them at our feet whilst we were sunbathing he would have had no proof it was not another wild animal anways so I also explained to him that it's not just our cat he has to worry about.