This might be a daft question - but is there anyway I can safely feed the birds in my small garden while protecting as much as possible from my avid hunter cat?
I'm thinking he would have a field day if I put anything out, but I would really love to. Any ideas, besdes screwing things half way up my house wall beyond jumping and climbing height?
does your 'avid hunter cat' wear a collar? If so, could you attach a bell?
having said that I must admit I'm not (and neither is my cat) a fan of collars having heard horror stories of cats getting themselves caught on branches etc.
my cat's a real 'scaredy cat' not straying further than his own or (if he's feeling REALLY brave) next door's garden and is hopeless at hunting although it amuses us to watch him trying. He's just useless and hides behind bits of grass thinking the birdies can't see him. They, of course know full well he's there and they wait until he makes his move before flying off, completely unconcerned!
Plottie
he has two bells on and still manages to bring in birds, lizards, voles, shrews, frogs, bats.
I think he has a complex he's scared of other cats so makes up for it by bringing in everything else to 'prove' he's not such a wimp!!
He has two collars on as we have an expensive infra-red catflap as its the only thing that'll keep out a neighbouring cat, and a flea collar as he is prone to fleas and gets very irritated skin. Both have elastic sections to try and minimise strangulation :-\
I think the bell round the collar just improves the cats hunting skills :'(
Hi Everybody, if someone sorts out this problem please let me know, as i have the same problem, two cats that bring back rabbits, mice, and birds, tried bells, but cant fix it,
later
windy
I have hung seed feeders in a tree with thin branches that won't take the cats' weight so they can't get near the birds. I haven't been aware of them catching a bird at all, but they are not very quick and I only let them out after eating so they are not hungry, in the hope that this makes them less likely to chase the birds. The tree is away from any thing else so they can't hide and ambush the birds and I never put bird food on the ground.
You can get bird feeders on poles which your cat wouldn't be able to climb (RSPB or CJ Wildbird Foods websites), or could you hang a feeder on a hanging basket bracket high on a wall. I don't know if this is any help but I so enjoy the birds in our garden that I hope you can enjoy yours too. Good luck.
I got a bird feeder recently from a boot sale, so don't know the manufacturer (sorry not a lot of help), but it it a six foot length of metal with what looks like a coat hanger on top. The feeders are suspended from that. So it may be the one that tulip has seen.
Ive got five mogs, and not one can get up to the feeders.
Bells just seem to make the cat stealthier. I hate it when one comes in with something - even though I live in the middle of the countryside I am often seen ruining into the fields with a rescued bird/mouse/frog/rabbit
Loz