The cats are casting like crazy! ...usefull idea?

JCD_Capulet

both my cats are shedding hair like it's going out of fashion at the moment, so I think I have an idea to put this casted hair to good use.

I've got a large tupperware dish laying spare and am thinking about gathering up all the hair after each time I groom them to put it in this container (with a little sachet of silica gel). I was thinking, when it comes around to winter again and I start putting food back out for the birds, I could put the gathered up hair in a seperate feeder. No, not to feed the birds, but to offer them nesting materials. I'm thinking of using a peanut feeder with the wire mesh for the furry offerings.

What do you think? Good idea or am I truly an OTT crazy cat lady?

ka7e

I'm sure the birds will appreciate the hair right now - lots are either still nesting or probably preparing to raise a second brood. I think birds only nest when raising chicks, and that they just roost at other times of the year.
I don't save my cat's hair, but do groom my dog in the local park, leaving huge piles of hair around for the birds!

CarolnMalky

I keep threatening my white tortie cat that I am gonna hoover her...I can no longer wear black in the house

sleepymy

Do you think the birds will want it when it smells of cat? If so it's a great idea!

Jo6673

can birds smell??

sleepymy

Isn't that why they reject chicks if they've been handled by humans?

JCD_Capulet

sleepymy wrote: »

Do you think the birds will want it when it smells of cat? If so it's a great idea!

When I was alot younger and used to spot old unused nests (in my tree climbing days) I found that alot of nests were lined with animal hair and other types of feather too. I don't think the smell of cat would put birds off collecting and using the hair, just so long as it's not still attached to a cat

sandy2_2

When I groom the cat I just let the hair go in the garden. As it flies up the air, the birds chase after it as if it was a moth or insect. Many nests are lined with the cats fur, really cosy I would think. If the fur ends up onthe ground, some little field mouse will benefit

JCD_Capulet

ka7e wrote: »

I'm sure the birds will appreciate the hair right now - lots are either still nesting or probably preparing to raise a second brood. I think birds only nest when raising chicks, and that they just roost at other times of the year.
I don't save my cat's hair, but do groom my dog in the local park, leaving huge piles of hair around for the birds!

Yeah.......I'll be popping the fur outside in the next day or so. I've just been subjected to viewing a pair of wood pidgeons making love on my window ledge :rotfl:

Penny_Watcher

JCD_Capulet wrote: »

I've just been subjected to viewing a pair of wood pidgeons making love on my window ledge :rotfl:

Shield your eyes at once! :eek: :rotfl::rotfl:

Fat Bob the Ginger Pup (presently 30kg of ginger fluff) sheds hair like it's going out of fashion. I try to groom her outside whilst it's windy or we'd be knee deep in dog hair. I'm sure I've seen somewhere that it's not unusual for people to collect their pets' hair to knit with. Bleurgh :eek:

red-chilli

I had wood piegons on my fence getting amourous together 2 months ago. Last night when I was sat eating my tea those two wood pigeons along with two baby wood pigeons appeared on the fence. I thought it was very sweet.

Oh and I like thee idea of letting the cat hair out in the garden for the birds....will start doing that myself :j