How can I stop my cats killing birds?

[bluedawn99]

Does anyone have any ideas how to stop my cats from raiding nests and killing the baby birds?

[paddywak]

I dont think that you can stop them raiding nests if they can reach them, cats are hunters by nature, I dont know if it works, as I'm not really a cat person, but i've been told that collar with a bell on it will alert adult birds before your cat can catch them.

[Bellringer]

A number 5 cartridge should do the trick

[bluedawn99]

Thanks for that! However it is still illegal to shoot cats even if they are your own!

[Kleiber]

In answer to you question, bluedawn - nope!!

[Now-Voyager]

Keep them in??

Or only let them out under supervision.

[Goodsoulette]

only let her out at night! Not much other you can do apart from a bell on her collar or that!

[Ice.Maiden]

Yep - a bell'd work, but wouldn't be of much help to chicks, as the parent bird'd just leave the nest if it sensed a cat was near. Unfortunately, it's nature, although i have 4 cats, and they don't seem to be great hunters. Pigeons can land within easy reach, but they just sit there watching them!!!

[bluedawn99]

So Supa Witty!

[sue11]

I have heard that the bell on the collar will alert the birds, but I have always worried about my cats getting caught somewhere by the collar so have never put one on them. It is not just your cats you have to be worried about, but all the other cats visiting your garden as well. My next door neighbours cat, caught a bird in my gaden by leaping up from the ground straight up to the bird feeder handing from the tree about 5 foot up and grabbing the bird! I thought that I had placed it high enough off the ground to keep the birds safe, but obviously not! As paddywak says they are hunters by nature and nothing that I know of will stop them. My cats are getting on a bit now, so don't bother hunting birds, but still bring in the odd mouse to me as a present.
Cheers, Sue.

[edwina19181]

yeah i heard a bell will do the job......

[Now-Voyager]

Sue11,

Those collars are ok as long as you get the ones with a piece of elastic in. If they are snagged the cat can wriggle it's head out. My burmese wore them for years, but it did not seem to hinder their hunting. And when they realised they could catch them on something and extricate their heads they did so. I kept finding their collars hooked over the same branch on a bush.........eventually I gave up putting them back on.

[Ice.Maiden]

I agree with you NV - and my cats are Burmese as well, but although they started off well with their collars, I didn't like the thought of them getting snagged on bushes, despite the elasticated bit on each, so off they came.

[folding]

what do you feed your cats on?Change their food for a change.do they raid the nests when you are out?Hope they will stop doing it,as they get older.

[snodhutch]

my cats have always worn collars with bells but it never stops them catching birds and they've never had any accidents with their collars. Don't think you can stop them catching birds unfortunately

[Now-Voyager]

Ice,

Pleased to meet another Burmese lover. :-)

They are the most intelligent, lovable, moody, chatty and wonderful breed. Ony got one elderly boy now, but he is fit and healthy, still having mad moments when he thinks he's still a kitten.

[woofgang]

if you can lie in wait, a water pistol is a great deterrent for your own cats or those who visit regularly. I taught a neighbours cat (with the neighbours permission) not to take fish from my pond by judicious use of a water pistol.

But basically it is a cat thing.....

[Liam305]

Fit your cat with a CatAlert Sonic collar
www.catalert.com