Absolutely sick of them! Even though my wire fox terrier does a good job of seeing them off there are still 2 who creep in when he's not looking and they are taking my birds. They've also made off with four of my new fish and quite a few of my frogs, even though there is a net over the pond. It's heartbreaking and as much as I love animals/wildlife/birds etc I am ready to get a gun and shoot the things. My son, who's a university student, also gets pretty wound up about it and he says "mum, you just know that when that cat goes back to its home the owner will be saying 'oh look at darling Tiddles, he's brought his mummy a little birdie', but we've seen the other side of that!" If anyone has any ideas other than a gun I would be grateful because hearing those birds screaming as they're caught is very upsetting for us all.
Do the cats who come in your garden have collars with bells one them? Also, you could move your bird tables away from bushes and trees - cats can hide under bushes to stalk the birds.
I am a cat owner myself and I can assure you if our cat brings in any birds (he has bought in about three in the past three years) we certainly don't praise him for it. He gets a massive telling off - i'm trying to condition him not to bring them in.
It's very saddening as we don't like him killing birds as much as you do. We have managed to save one bird before that he bought in that was still alive and unharmed once it had gotten over the shock.
If you know who the owners of the cats are, you could always tell them about it and see if they can help at all?
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You could always buy a python. ;-)
i use a "cat-apult"
bugger that hurt
You could try a cat scarer device that uses high frequncy sound. Sort of thing they have at garden centres
I was in the rounders team in school so am already pretty good with hurling rocks and stones!!
There is stuff advertised, which is LION's POO! Apparently, it does not smell to us humans,but if you put a bit of it around the garden, it keeps cats away. Have a look in some of the brochures which fall thru your letterbox, full of ideas for gadgets & household solutions etc.
Also, my father used to use a water pistol (you can get quite high powered ones now in toyshops) as cats don't like getting wet, or being surprised.
Not sure that any more aggressive action towards cats or any other animal for that matter is compatable with the ethos of an RSPB forum The suggestion of a python is somewhat bizarre in view of the incident where a cat was eaten by thirteen foot python in a neighbours garden. The python is not listed as a dangerous animal under the relevant act as it is not venomous. I can only assume that being crushed to death is somehow less harmful than being poisoned. It may be of interest that there is a petition on the Downing Street website to get such creatures as constricting reptiles including in the dangerous category. The cat was proven to be in the snake belly when the lump was scanned revealing the microchip with the owners data. Whether your suggestion was serious or not you may wish to consider your position had the victim been a baby, small child or even your grandma! Of course in these circumstances there would have been no microchip to detect! As for the suggestion of a cat apult again if these suggestions are facetuos they are not appropriate as they are not if seriously intended. If your intent is to harm one particular species, one might assume your double standards of animal welfare could well extend elsewhere! Descrimination in any shape or form is not an endearing trait!
It's called having a sense of humour and in the face of diversity! I can assure you I have NO intention of harming the cats nor do I have double standards with regard to animal welfare, having been a member of the RSPB, WWF, Gwent Wildlife Trust and a regular supporter of IFAW and WSPA for many years. I support the NSPCC as well as my standards extend to child welfare.
I am taking up the suggestion of the electronic device.
they dont work with the cats that invade my garden they are a dam pain taking birds and messing in my borders.
I love blackbirds
Joanne Treverton Do the cats who come in your garden have collars with bells one them? Also, you could move your bird tables away from bushes and trees - cats can hide under bushes to stalk the birds. I am a cat owner myself and I can assure you if our cat brings in any birds (he has bought in about three in the past three years) we certainly don't praise him for it. He gets a massive telling off - i'm trying to condition him not to bring them in. It's very saddening as we don't like him killing birds as much as you do. We have managed to save one bird before that he bought in that was still alive and unharmed once it had gotten over the shock. If you know who the owners of the cats are, you could always tell them about it and see if they can help at all?
The bird feeder is in the middle of the lawn but near enough to the hedge for the birds to fly to should the local sparrowhawk be in the vicinity. Sadly these guys don't have bells on their collars but I will try to seek out the owners. thanks for your suggestions.
Hi, the most effective way I know of is to use a hose on the cats. This is not cruel or painful and it tends to deter them well. I am a cat owner, always have been, and I am very lucky that the cat I have now does not like to catch birds or other wildlife. He reminds me of James the Cat from the old cartoon. He actually sits on the decking stairs watching the birds feeding on their station. The birds in my garden are also not scared of him in return which is good.
I am sorry you have this problem- I remember hearing the frogs scream when my previous cats had caught one- I rescued them everytime! But the hose is a very good shout- my next door neighbour doesn't like my cat in his garden so he get's him with the hose and now he's too scared (or just not liking the water) to go in there at all!
Hope you find a solution :)
Woodard Absolutely sick of them! Even though my wire fox terrier does a good job of seeing them off there are still 2 who creep in when he's not looking and they are taking my birds. They've also made off with four of my new fish and quite a few of my frogs, even though there is a net over the pond. It's heartbreaking and as much as I love animals/wildlife/birds etc I am ready to get a gun and shoot the things. My son, who's a university student, also gets pretty wound up about it and he says "mum, you just know that when that cat goes back to its home the owner will be saying 'oh look at darling Tiddles, he's brought his mummy a little birdie', but we've seen the other side of that!" If anyone has any ideas other than a gun I would be grateful because hearing those birds screaming as they're caught is very upsetting for us all.
And my wife and I thought we were the only ones with a problem with cats! What a relief! Five years ago we moved to a house in Tewkesbury. Here the soil is solid clay, so gardening can be difficult. We built raised flower beds and imported soft soil. What a mistake! Every moggy in the neighbourhood started to visit us daily. Sometimes it was like the queue for the ladies loo on a Bank Holiday at the seaside. Not only was there the filth of cat poo everywhere, but we had to bury four dead blue-tit chicks after one parent was found dead on the lawn with the feathers of the other one nearby.
We have tried most things suggested: sprays, gels, electronic devices, the hose pipe, chasing them out, stone throwing, I now have a catapult (but have yet to use it). Nothing seems to work for very long. So we would like to sound out public opinion: can we make cat owners subject to the same laws as dog owners?
That is: cats must be licenced; owners must take their cat for a walk on a lead; owners are responsible for picking up the cat poo; and lastly, cat flaps should be banned. This would put the responsibility for cats where it belongs: with the owners. Is it asking too much?
Regards Seajay
What about the ground protector cages?
https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/p/BirdAccessories/Ground_protectors.htm
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