How can I keep birds out of my yard?

Question

My cat (who only goes outside in the back yard) keeps catching the poor things and bringing them in the house!! I know it is in the cats nature to hunt birds so how can I keep them out of my yard!! (It is for their own good!!)

Answer 1

"My cat (who only goes outside in the back yard) keeps catching the poor things and bringing them in the house!! I know it is in the cats nature to hunt birds so how can I keep them out of my yard!! (It is for their own good!!)"

Actually, you need to keep your cat indoors for several reasons, as that's the problem, not the birds. The birds are, of course, in their natural habitat, and it's actually a compliment that they are visiting your yard, you're probably a great gardener!

Cats should be kept indoors at all times for a number of reasons, namely they are an introduced species not native to this continent (and the "it's natural for them to hunt" argument therefore doesn't apply to a species that isn't native to a habitat). But cats are also much SAFER indoors for a variety of reasons that range from traffic dangers, attacks by other animals (invasive and native), and other cats, from whom they can contract feline AIDS, leukemia, and rabies. It's much safer for them to be indoors with you than outdoors where they victimize native animals and are themselves victimized in turn, often by humans.

Also, attaching bells and chimes to your cat's collar will NOT in any way protect wildlife from a cat's attack. This has been disproven by wildlife researchers, though many people believe it's effective and continue to attach a bell - but it doesn't work.

Additionally, the state of Wisconsin has estimated that cats permitted outdoors are responsible for the injury and death of over one MILLION wild birds within Wisconsin EACH YEAR. Multiply that by 50 states and you will quickly see that the number of cats permitted outside does, in fact, decimate wild bird populations along with loss of habitat, food sources, and the uses of pesticides. Those who state that one cat cannot impact the local bird population are sadly misinformed.

The URLS listed below provide succinct summaries regarding cats indoors and why this really is the correct approach rather than attempting to prevent native species of birds from traversing your yard.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I have seen 73 different species of bird in my back yard and there are more that I have heard but not seen yet. I don't have cats. If you want to stop the cat killing birds, concentrate on the cat not the birds. Keep the cat indoors or erect a cat enclosure in the back yard and allow the cat to move between the enclosure and the house.

In Australia many councils are now forcing cat owners to keep cats inside or in enclosures at night and off the streets in the day. Any cats caught outside are put down. The reason for this is to protect wildlife. A city like Sydney has about 5 million cats, both ferals and pets. If each one kills only two native birds, frogs or lizards every year that's 10million dead native animals every year from one city alone.

Leave the birds alone, control your cat.

Answer 3

The problem is your cat...not the birds. Yes, you are right, it is instinctual for cats to hunt..you cannot stop them from doing it, nor can you punish them. The only alternative is to keep your cat indoors, especially during the breeding season when there are lots of fledglings running around on the ground who have not yet learned to fly. Not sure if you know this, but cats have become a huge environmental problem when it comes to migratory birds, they kill millions per year worldwide and many species are decling and becoming endangered due to this. Scietists, humane societies, audobon and other organizations have started a "keep your cats indoors" campagin. Not only is it safer for the birds...it is safer for your cat. Indoor cats live twice as long as outdoor cats. Just a few of the dangers your outdoor cat can face: getting hit by a car, being poisoned by a person, antifreeze, rat poison, snail bait, etc., getting attacked or eaten by a wild animal or dog, getting in cat fights which can result in infection, abscess, feline leukemia, distemper, rabies, etc, picking up paratsites such as fleas, worms, earmites....the list goes on and on. Please consider keeping your cat inside. Birds will continue to come in your yard...you cannot stop nature...you can make your yard less desirable for birds, do not leave any food outside (cat food, etc.) and do not provide a water source of any kind.

Answer 4

If your backyard has features such as water sources, food or shelter, then birds will probably find a way to use those features no matter what you do.

The only way to really get rid of the birds is to remove those features. Chop down all the trees. Pave over the lawn. Take down the bushes and hedges. Remove the bird feeders. Get rid of any wires or poles they can perch on.

Since none of these is a particularly inviting option, and will make your backyard look more like a parking lot (and still might attract gulls and pigeons), it would probably be easier to do something about the cat.

Keeping the cat indoors will certainly eliminate any hunting of birds, but might not be popular with your cat.

Putting bells on your cat, however, is cheap, easy, and fairly effective - warning birds that your cat is near and attempting to stalk them.

If your cat already wears a collar, it's as easy as hanging a little dingle-bell there. If your cat doesn't wear a collar, it might take a few days of unhappy catitude before he gets used to it.

UPDATE: I was unaware that belling the cat was ineffective. As the answers below me state, the best option is to keep your cat indoors.

Answer 5

A cat does not have a natural instinct to hunt as a carnivore does. A cat is catches and plays with an animal, it does not realize it has killed the bird. That's why it brings the dead bird inside. It wants to continue playing with it. I and many folks call it torture and murder.

I would strongly suggest you train the cat to stop. Birds are protected by state and federal laws. Cat killing of birds number in the millions every year. It is illegal for you to allow your cat to continue killing birds. If I was one of your neighbors and saw this, I'd call the law.

You are responsible for your pets. That means you are guilty of killing protected songbirds. I hope you do feel the guilt and shame.

Answer 6

My grandfather was a farmer. There were a few suggestions that he always gave me (besides getting a homely looking scarecrow).

1) Since snakes are a natural predator for birds, try placing a few rubber snakes along the fence or in other strategic spots around the yard.

2) If the rubber snakes are too odd, try to place some ribbons that flap in the wind. The birds may see these as snakes and stay away.

3) Buy a plastic owl, another natural predator, and set him in a good spot to watch over your yard.

Answer 7

The predation by your cat is not likely to make any common bird species go extinct. Even though you may feel for the poor little creatures, they are wild animals, and part of the environment.

Sorry, but "He who made kittens, put snakes in the grass"

Answer 8

Purchase yourself a couple of inexpensive speakers, place them in the windows facing the yard and play Barry Manilow music constantly, this will keep everything out of your yard.

Answer 9

well you can train the cat not to catch the birds, or get rid of their habitats(the trees around your house, if there is any)

or scare the bird out of your yard with noisy fireworks(firecrackers, mad cats, ect) or you can lock the cat in and only let it out when you are with it.

Answer 10

Jim, how do you suggest you train a cat? You wont be able to. Its no use "calling the law". I would suggest putting up fake hawks and owls