I put of bird seeds, but there is a aweful neibourhood cat who bounces on the birds. what to do?

Question

i love cats..but i HATE HATE THIS cat and really would like to see him dead..I know know..aweful to say..but when this cat bounces on innocent birds you'd feel the same why. Help me any tips?

Answer 1

Check with your local authorities - are there leash laws for cats in your community? If so, and if you know who owns the cat, report them or have a talk with them and ask them to keep their cat leashed or indoors, as per the law. If there are leash laws and you do not know who owns the cat, call Animal Control (aka your local dogcatcher) and ask them to trap and remove the animal from your property.

If there are no leash laws, then take the matter into your own hands. Every time you see the cat in your yard, spray it with the hose or a super-soaker water gun. Or trap the cat and take it to the SPCA.

The person who said that you need to "get used to the fact that in nature animals kill and eat other animals" is wrong. A domestic house cat is not a part of nature, it is an intruder. Pets belong inside or under the control of their owner (in a fenced-in yard for dogs, or on a leash for all animals).

The Humane Society of the United States says "Free-roaming cats kill millions of wild animals each year. Studies show that most of the animals killed are small mammals such as chipmunks and field mice, and approximately 25% are birds. Well-fed housecats kill wildlife because of their instinct to hunt prey, not because they need the food. Cats are not a part of natural ecosystems, and their predation causes unnecessary death to wild animals."
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/keep_your_cat_safe_at_home_hsuss_safe_cats_campaign/be_a_good_neighbor.html

People who own cats should be responsible and keep them in the house. Everyone should work towards leash-laws for cats that are as stringent as those for dogs.

Answer 2

Hanging the feeder higher is only partially helpful - you have to consider the seeds that spill onto the ground. This is how a lot of cats get birds at feeders, going after the ones who feed on the ground. I have seen some trees with feeders attached high and then a shelf-like ledge a little lower (but still high off the ground) to catch the spillage and where the birds can perch who like to eat on a flat surface. Be sure there is no way for the cat to jump up onto this ledge or it will defeat the purpose.

Answer 3

Not much you can do other than buy a feeder and hang in up higher either off the side of the house or off a tree branch nearby....off the house may be better though since the cat could climb the tree although the birds usually notice and have plenty of warning then too.

Answer 4

That is an on-going issue that may be hard to solve. You might need to put your seed out on a feeder that is suspended in such a way that the cat can't get at or near it and make sure that it is near shelter that the birds can get to quickly. That may be all that you can do for them. Nature happens.

Answer 5

Try to put the bird seed higher/ Grab a ladder, put a sturdy nail in the side of the house, and hang a bird feeder.

Answer 6

My only idea would be to put the food next to a sprinkler or something, that way when you notice the cat getting close, turn it on and knowing cats, it'll high tail it out of the area. Just a thought. Good luck.

Answer 7

I understand your frustration, just remember this is in a cats natural instinct to do this. Put a feeder up in a high place where the cat cannot reach it.

Best of luck.

Answer 8

what you should do is get used to the fact that in nature animals kill and eat other animals.